Decimal Currency in America
The metric system has never caught on in the U.S., but when it comes to decimal measures, there is one place where America has been a pioneer. We were one of the first countries...
St. Patrick’s Day and Other Drinking Holidays
Some holidays you spend with family, while others are just an excuse to get off work. But some of the best kind of holidays are Ethnic Drinking Holidays. People like an excuse to drink,...
The Horrors of the Poplar Street Bridge
The Mississippi is a wide river, even as far north as St. Louis. Crossing it can be a hassle, especially in Downtown St. Louis. Since 1967, there have been four bridges downtown, two north...
Communism on Campus
It was my first month on campus, and I was still getting settled into my routines. I stopped by the International Center to grab some lunch after class, and that’s when I saw a...
Atchafalaya: The Future Mississippi River
Right on the southwest corner of the State of Mississippi, there is a confluence of rivers. The Red River, which separates Texas from Oklahoma, meets up with the Mighty Mississippi. A mile to two...
Downtown Rowlett, Texas
Rowlett, Texas is a suburb of Dallas on the far eastern edge of the DFW Metroplex. It’s about as far out as you can go and still be in the surburbs. Once you travel...
Smacked in Madrid
It was my first day in Spain. After an unexpected date, I met up with my friends and we checked into our hostel. After dropping off our luggage, we took a walk around the...
How Mario Got His Mustache
Super Mario Bros. is one of the most successful video game franchises of all time. For people of a certain age, Mario and other Nintendo characters are better known than old-school cartoon characters like...
America and the Metric System
When I was a kid, we watched films about the metric system. (And when I say films, I mean actual reels of film. Most of these movies were made well before I was born.)...
Originality Is in the Eye of the Beholder
I had a college professor who always talked about originality. Before every quiz and exam he would tell us that he was looking for a synthesis of new ideas. He told us not to...
