American

Why Washington DC Should be Our 51st State

51 stars on the US flag

Has this ever happened to you? You start to hear about an upcoming get-together -- a birthday party among your classmates. Or someone in your family is getting married. Or your co-workers are organizing some celebration. They're making plans, they're all excited, and you expect to hear the details about when it is, and where...

But wait! You never get the invitation! What the -- ! How come you're being excluded? You thought you were part of the group but turns out you're ... not?

If you've ever had this experience then you know how Washington DC residents feel.

What We Say When We Say the Pledge of Allegiance

The American Flag flies over Madrid, New Mexico

I hadn’t been in the habit of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance since elementary school, and unless you are a politician, a teacher, or a scout leader, you probably haven’t either.

But a few years ago, I joined the ABQ Speaks Up Toastmasters club and was surprised to find the club says the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of every meeting.  

Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance on a regular basis again had me wondering about this peculiar political ritual.

The Best Podcast of 2017

A microphone

Forty percent of Americans over the age of 12 have listened to a podcast at least once, according to podcast research from this year. Last year I joined this group by buying a tiny mp3 player.

I thought it would encourage me to work out more often. Actually, I didn't end up going to the gym more often, but it did change my life for the better, and I want to explain how, as well as talk about how it seems to be a good fit with what we do in Toastmasters.

The Hermione-Draco Election

Does anyone else see the current U.S. Presidential election as the matchup between Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy?

In this corner, Hermione/Hillary Clinton: female, smart, studious, dedicated, good-intentioned. Tends to come off as wonkish, or snobbish to those that dislike her.

And on the Republican/Slytherin side, Draco/Donald Trump, the rich, spoiled, entitled scion, with bad hair, bad character, obnoxious and selfish.

How has this not been a meme?