Wayne Taylor stared at the blinking cursor on his monitor, the quarterly reports swimming before his tired eyes. The Manhattan skyline glittered beyond his corner office window, but he might as well have been looking at a wall. Six months since the divorce papers were signed, and the world still felt muted, like someone had … Continue reading The Voice in the Machine
Relationships
Question of the Week #455
What if you were no longer fertile and could not otherwise have your own biological child? This week's question from Gregory Stock's The Book of Questions follows naturally from last week's exploration of loss, identity, and genetic connections. While last week we grappled with the devastating reality of losing a child and the temptation to … Continue reading Question of the Week #455
Sunshine After the Storm
The sky was an unusual shade of periwinkle that morning—a color that would have been considered beautiful in the old world but now signaled the third atmospheric storm of the week. Mara Jensen pulled her patched-together raincoat tighter around her shoulders and adjusted her scavenged solar goggles. Three years after the Great Floods, the climate … Continue reading Sunshine After the Storm
Question of the Week #444
In this weekly series, I explore thought-provoking ethical dilemmas drawn from Gregory Stock's The Book of Questions. These questions have no easy answers—only personal truths we must each confront in our own way. This Week's Question Last week, we explored what you might do if you discovered your mother having an affair. This week, we … Continue reading Question of the Week #444
The Roommates: Analyzing the Dynamic of the New Girl Loft Crew
In the heart of Los Angeles, inside a spacious industrial loft with exposed brick walls and questionable plumbing, one of television's most memorable "found families" was born. Fox's sitcom New Girl (2011-2018) began with a simple premise: quirky teacher Jessica Day moves in with three male strangers after a devastating breakup. What followed was seven … Continue reading The Roommates: Analyzing the Dynamic of the New Girl Loft Crew
Question of the Week #443
In this weekly series, I explore thought-provoking ethical dilemmas drawn from Gregory Stock's The Book of Questions. These questions have no easy answers—only personal truths we must each confront in our own way. This Week's Question While out one day, you come upon your mother holding hands with someone who is obviously her lover. She … Continue reading Question of the Week #443
Question of the Week #429
It's time for another installment in our Question of the Week series, where we explore thought-provoking queries from Gregory Stock's The Book of Questions. This week's question cuts straight to the heart of human connection: Who is the most important person in your life? What could you do to improve the relationship? Will you ever … Continue reading Question of the Week #429
Question of the Week #426
This week's question comes from Gregory Stock's thought-provoking book, The Book of Questions. It's one that cuts to the heart of how we view love, commitment, and marriage: If you were relatively happily married, had no kids, and met someone you knew would always bring you passionate, intoxicating love, would you leave your spouse? What … Continue reading Question of the Week #426
Question of the Week #421
Have you ever caught yourself wondering what your friends really think about you? Maybe you've had that fleeting thought right after cracking a joke that fell flat, or perhaps it's crossed your mind during one of those late-night existential crises we all pretend we don't have. Well, buckle up, folks, because this week's question is … Continue reading Question of the Week #421
Question of the Week #417
How many different sexual partners have you had in your life? Do you wish you'd had more or fewer? Why? Ah, the age-old question that makes dinner parties either really interesting or incredibly awkward, depending on how much wine has been consumed. Welcome, dear readers, to another installment of our Question of the Week series, … Continue reading Question of the Week #417
The Confusing Middle 