The one thing everyone forgets about Obama’s legacy
Published: Daily Dot (October 16, 2014) Unlikely though it might seem, First Lady Michelle Obama’s new viral video “Turnip for What” is more than just a silly video that parodies a hip-hop hit to teach Americans about the joys of eating the titular vegetable. Indeed, even as pundits continue to debate Paul Krugman’s controversial Rolling Stone article detailing Barack Obama’s policy successes...
I’m a real teacher, and I love Rate My Professor
Published: Daily Dot (October 13, 2014) The website Rate My Professor, which allows users to rank and write reviews of their teachers, is more than just a valuable tool for college students who want to be smart consumers about their classroom experiences. It also embodies the greatest promise of the Internet revolution—its ability to not only disseminate information, but encourage people to...
Navigating with Anxiety
Published: Good Men Project (October 12, 2014) co-author: Liskula Cohen Two people, one condition. See how anxiety affected the lives of Liskula Cohen and Matt Rozsa. There is a chaotic quality to suffering from anxiety. As this article was being developed, it became clear that it’s impossible to effectively capture the experience of clinical anxiety in the same linear fashion used for other...
America’s flip-flop foreign policy: Rand Paul, Hillary Clinton, and the new millennial voter
Published: Salon (October 11, 2014) Previously, politicians fought to be seen as more hawkish than their opponents. Here's why those days are over Senator Rand Paul, ostensibly the heir to his father’s reputation as one of America’s premier go-to libertarians, recently said that as president he would “destroy ISIS militarily.” Given that libertarians often see eye-to-eye with the left in...
Bill Maher’s ‘Disturbingly Oblivious’ – And Not The Liberal In This Debate
Published: Salon (October 9, 2014) Militant atheism of "Real Time" host and Sam Harris makes them focus on Islam as the enemy, blinds them to history There are six words that sum up Bill Maher’s basic case against Islam: “I’m the liberal in this debate.” No, unfortunately, Maher was not the liberal in that debate. The most obvious reason is the condescending attitude that Maher and fellow pundit...
Why ‘Ghostbusters 3’ Might Be Awesome
Published: The Good Men Project (September 27, 2014) If a female-led Ghostbusters 3 becomes a reality, what could that mean for future of female comedy writers, actors. and directors? Recently, Bill Murray made entertainment headlines by listing his picks for the new line-up to spearhead the long-awaited Ghostbusters 3. The names included Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Linda Cardellini,...
Anita Sarkeesian & The Self-Dehumanization of a Generation
Published: The Good Men Project (September 24, 2014; republished on October 15, 2014) The backlash against statements by gaming commentator Anita Sarkeesian has writer Matthew Rozsa questioning mob mentality in the digital world. Before discussing the Anita Sarkeesian controversy – better known these days as “GamerGate” – I’d like to submit the following quote for your consideration,...
Al Gore is the single-issue candidate we need
Published: Salon (July 19, 2014) Maybe he wouldn't win, but Al Gore could still make climate change one of the biggest stories of 2016 With Republican pundits speculating on the possibility of a third Mitt Romney bid for the White House, I think it’s appropriate to mention another two-time presidential candidate whose moment has come in 2016 — Al Gore. Allow me to explain. I have never met Gore,...
Robin Williams Shaped By Depression’s Double-Edged Sword
Published: The Morning Call (September 10, 2014) The New York Times, which is capable of producing great insights, puzzlingly expressed surprise at Robin Williams' legendary work ethic in its obituary. "Given his well-publicized troubles with depression, addiction, alcoholism and a significant heart surgery in 2009," it commented, "Mr. Williams should have had a résumé filled with mysterious...
A Model’s Take on the Politics of Photoshop
Published: GirlieGirlArmy (July 21, 2014) co-author: Liskula Cohen It’s interesting that Photoshop has developed such a poor reputation. Over the past week it has already made national news twice – first in a controversy over whether InStyle Magazine excessively altered Zooey Deschanel’s appearance for their cover, and now thanks to a series of Bongo ads featuring Vanessa Hudgens which go out...
How I Respond To The Court That Just Struck Down A Historic Cyberbullying Law
Published: Mic (July 3, 2014) co-author: Liskula Cohen On Tuesday, New York’s highest court struck down an Albany County law that would have made it a crime to “cyber-bully.” As a trailblazer in fighting for the rights of cyberbullying victims, you might think that I’d oppose the court’s decision. Unfortunately, the judicial system did what was necessary – overturn a badly-written law that did a...
Evidence is in: Gay marriage doesn’t hurt children
Published: Grand Forks Herald (June 23, 2014) BETHLEHEM, Pa. — When I read Ronald Fischer’s recent column opposing gay marriage, I couldn’t help but think of a line in the Sherlock Holmes story, “A Scandal in Bohemia”: “It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.” It is clear that Fischer...
Observations from the primary campaign trail
Published: The Morning Call (June 16, 2014) After more than two years as a political columnist for PolicyMic and other publications, I made the decision last month to undertake a career hiatus and work as the Northampton County field organizer for Tom Wolf's gubernatorial campaign. Although I knew this would probably be a temporary position, I embraced it not only to help the Democrats nominate...
Anti Big Pharma But Pro Vax
Published: GirlieGirlArmy.com (June 12, 2014) co-author: Liskula Cohen Vaccines are a touchy subject. While the trend is turning towards being passionately against them, others still teeter between comfort in the decision to ultimately have their children vaccinated, feeling the pros outweigh the cons. While we respect our anti-vax readers opinions, here is another perspective from a Mom you’d...
The Crazy Things David Brat Believe Will Make You Wonder How He Earned His Ph.D.
Published: mic (June 12, 2014) The man who beat Eric Cantor may have a Ph.D., but he sure doesn't act like it. I'm not saying this because I disagree with his political views. There are plenty of conservatives and libertarians in academia (hoary claims of ivory tower "liberal bias" notwithstanding), and while I don't share their opinions on a multitude of subjects, we have always stressed...
Write What You Know
Published: CadyMcClain.com (June 8, 2014) This literary aphorism may have been penned by Mark Twain, but it could have very easily been said by Cady McClain, the daytime television star (All My Children, As The World Turns, The Young and the Restless) whose memoirs, Murdering My Youth, were released on Amazon in April. Unlike many similar books published by public figures, Cady does not use this...
I’m the Victim of an Anti-Semitic Hate Crime – Here’s What I Say About Kansas
Published: mic (April 14, 2014) The shooting yesterday at a Jewish community center in Kansas City was more than tragic. It was un-American. This crime strikes a deep personal chord with me, not only because I have also been the victim of an anti-Semitic hate crime, but because its motivations fly in the face of our nation's most important and fundamental ideals. Its perpetrator, Frazier Glenn...