This morning the New York Times had an interesting piece in its style section about the dynamics of hookups on college campuses, “Sex on Campus: She Can Play That Game, Too.” Extra, extra, women have sex drives too! Ok, ok, so the story has a point (that has already been beaten to death), in that … Continue reading
Author Archives: k.e. brenzel
Woes of the gatekeeper
Following days of continuously inundating televisions, mobile devices, airwaves and newsstands with developments of the hunt, initial reports of the capture of teen-man Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev cited the same source — a tweet from Boston police. So, who needs journalists? Relaying information secondhand has always been part of the job. The reporter, simply put, collects, analyzes … Continue reading
New year, new us, dummies
Dec. 31 is as good a time as any for a brief self assessment, even if the idea of hitching life goals to the New Year’s bandwagon repels your alternative inclinations. These sort of published self-promises are horribly indulgent, but having recognized that, I can now charge forward with what I’ve come to understand as … Continue reading
About shoes
New shoes may or may not be worth the trouble. On the pro-side of the paper folded hot-dog style to divide positive from negative, is the novelty. The excitement of being part of something new, feeling more attractive simply by proximity to something that agrees with you, will be seen with you, that you can … Continue reading
A dilemma of hands
Hands are a big problem when dancing alone or in a group. What to do with them? How to incorporate them in whatever violent movement that you’ve chosen, at the moment, to pair with whatever bass-heavy monstrosity is blasting, at the moment. Involving another human—you have options. Hips, neck, what have you. With a partner, … Continue reading
Cleaning like a sophisticated, grownup-lady person
There’s something about vacuuming that makes me feel like I am taking control of my life. Rest assured, the task is no dainty picture of domesticity (though I have the pearls and lipstick to make it happen). Contrary, friends. It’s an aggressive reclaiming of space and sanity. It’s a time when I’m forced to address … Continue reading
Separating the reporter from the reported: Should readers take a new critical approach to journalism?
Journalism is more than fifty shades of gray, and it isn’t exactly sexy. Today in class an interesting discussion sprung from Daniel L. Golden’s Pulitzer-winning series on affirmative action at U.S. universities. Golden, who largely examined the non-academic reasons white students were admitted to prestigious universities, is a graduate of one of the schools that relied heavily on legacy admissions: Harvard … Continue reading
Fearing the big move? Thrive and survive while living alone (it isn’t neurosis if you blog about it)
It’s been a while since I’ve buckled down and written something for this thing, but I’d like to jump back into it, coinciding with my maiden voyage into independent living. I’ve taken note of a few changes since moving into my new digs. I haven’t quite attained the Carrie Bradshaw glow — though I’m sure … Continue reading
Ode to the nut graf
Here it is: The nut graf. What you are about to write is about this, this and this. “No oxford comma in your rule of three, please,” you said to yourself. Or maybe the coy approach, ease into it: A journalist walks into a bar and strikes up conversation with a man who just so … Continue reading
“Kiss me, I’m IRATE”
St. Patrick’s Day is a day that I become irrationally self-defensive. This blog post is evidence of that. I am not Irish. Despite the freckles, the translucent skin, the reddish hair, I am probably more Sioux Indian than I am Irish. (And believe it or not, a fraction of me exists that is Sioux Indian). There’s nothing … Continue reading