A day or two ago I posted a status that read, "Apparently the VMAs happened last night. In other news, 25,000 people died yesterday due to poverty related causes. Enjoy your twerking." Several people readily 'liked' the status. However, one of my good friends astutely commented "couldn't this be said about anything though?" Giving examples … Continue reading Are You Not Entertained?
Getting Back into the Swing of Things
I've learned, without a doubt, that 'normal' is a relative term. All during the time I was on my way back to Ktown I was expecting some of the old novelty or at least weirdness of returning here to hit me. It never came. All the flights, customs experiences, and various other things that seemed … Continue reading Getting Back into the Swing of Things
Here We Go Again
About 72 hours from hopping on another plane to the opposite side of the world. Holy crap, where did the summer go? Being back in the US has been surreal, in a good kind of way. The best part of it has been seeing family and reuniting with friends. Since being back in the US, … Continue reading Here We Go Again
There and Back Again
So, I've been back from K-town for a week now. I have to say, it's interesting being home. Rambling thoughts to follow. The culture here continually shocks me but I'm thinking that it has less and less to do with living in Afghanistan for the past year. I'm just amazed at the pointless lives that … Continue reading There and Back Again
U.S. Development (Failure) in A-Stan
So, here is yet another thought on why the US development strategy has largely failed in Afghanistan. There are a lot of reasons that diplomacy has failed here, you can read a little about that here if you'd like but that's not what this post is about. Disclaimer: While I have many disagreements with the US … Continue reading U.S. Development (Failure) in A-Stan
The Woman in the Window
The woman walked up to the window of the armored vehicle I was sitting in with my boss and another employee of the school where I work in Kabul. She was the third beggar that had come up to our window in the 5 minutes we had been sitting in the car, waiting to get … Continue reading The Woman in the Window
You Might Hate this Post.
You might hate this post. I’d like to begin by saying that I wholeheartedly condemn all acts of murder; whether they be designated as terrorism, domestic or international (even though these terms are misleading), government sanctioned, or any other variation that could be conjured into your mind. Secondly, I wholeheartedly condemn the murder of uninvolved … Continue reading You Might Hate this Post.
Around and Around We Go
Whenever you do something that endeavors to change the status quo, you will meet resistance. It may be slow at first, then fierce. Most people would say, the fiercer the resistance the better of a job you're doing. I'm not entirely sure of that. Many times the resistance you encounter could be your own stupidity … Continue reading Around and Around We Go
Point of Reference
I've been thinking a lot about Einstein lately. Not that I'm thinking about Physics or anything like that, but rather the relativity of perception due to one's point of reference. So, I may not even really be thinking of Einstein at all, just about my own point of reference in relation to how I used … Continue reading Point of Reference
A Year in Review
The first post of 2013, glad the Mayans were wrong. This year has certainly been unlike any other I've had. Here's a few things that have happened in 2012. Finished my study abroad in France (yes, 2011, I know, but it feels like yesterday) Graduated University Moved to an active war zone Spent significant amounts … Continue reading A Year in Review
Luke David 