I want people. I miss people. I need people. I spend time with people. But every person now is a preacher. Everybody has a sermon. Everyone has an opinion. I have opinions too, but there is no room for me. No space. Not in this marketplace of ideas. Soapboxes everywhere, in and out of every …
Author Archives: Shawn
Intentional Fan
As I stood up on the bench and pulled the rusty chain of the ceiling fan above the sweltering café patio, I told my friend, who was complaining of the still-air heat, “I am an engineer. I fuck with my environment to make it better.” After a few tugs, the dead fan sprung to life …
Es hat endet
As I predicted and/or intended, I failed Deutsch IV. It was inevitable. I previously swore to myself that I would at least finish the semester so I didn’t get the figurative DNF (Did Not Finish, racing term). Well, I stopped running in the last chapter. Burned out. I was so far behind on my homework, …
Party Privilege: Silence
As O’Brien passed the telescreen a thought seemed to strike him. He stopped, turned aside and pressed a switch on the wall. There was a sharp snap. The voice had stopped. Julia uttered a tiny sound, a sort of squeak of surprise. Even in the midst of his panic, Winston was too much taken aback …
Unmensch
When I meet a woman who seems interesting enough that I’d maybe like to pursue a relationship with, the first thing I do is shoot myself in the foot and completely disavow her of any notion that I might actually be a man. Can’t have her believing any of that nonsense. Of course, sabotaging myself …