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Coffee Talk: Carmichael Dining Center

There’s a heated debate over which dining hall is better: Dewick or Carm. In all honesty, both dining halls are like my children; I can’t pick a favorite. However, today we are going to be talking about Carm: where the dining staff members are always happy, smoothies occasionally make it on the breakfast menu and, of course, fresh berries are served almost every morning. 


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Comfort Cartoons: Neo-noir and gothic 'Batman: The Animated Series'

Following the episodic adventures of Batman, Robin and Batgirl, the series takes on a darker tone that feels inspired by both Tim Burton’s two Batman films and the ‘70s and '80s comic books. Those interpretations are seen in every detail: Gotham City’s skies are dark even during the day, the buildings are tall and gothic and gangsters sneak around in alleys and side streets.


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The Strike Zone: US, China and Taiwan

The United States has pledged to defend Taiwan for moral reasons, as the U.S. sees itself as a standard-bearer for democracy worldwide. However, the U.S. government often fails to walk the proverbial walk when it places human rights-based ultimatums on other countries, and it has a history of neglecting democracy when it benefits America economically.


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Building Blocks: Tabula rasa

In Locke’s "An Essay Concerning Human Understanding" (1689), he presented the idea that we are all born a blank slate, a tabula rasa, ready to be painted with acquired knowledge. His philosophy laid the foundations for the secular education system that seeks to paint millions of K–12 students’ blank slates today.



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Long Shot: Ryan Mundy and Alkeme Health

This edition of “Long Shot,” which explores athletes’ ventures off the field, is about former NFL player Ryan Mundy. Drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2008, he helped the team win the Super Bowl in his rookie season. During his successful eight-year NFL career, Mundy established himself as one of the best and hardest-hitting safeties in the league. 



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A Fantastic Voyage: 'Solve Everything' Part 1

It always impresses me when a writer can find a novel concept in long-running series with decades of lore and a tried and true premise like “Fantastic Four” (1961–). I chuckle even harder when that novel idea is both literal and figurative. The secret behind that riddle is the subject of today’s story arc, “Solve Everything” (2009). 


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The Honeymoon Period: America's prime minister

McConnell’s blatant obstructionism and norm breaking were the defining characteristics of his tenure as majority leader from 2015 to 2021. Had he retained his Senate majority following the 2020 elections, McConnell likely would have killed nearly all of President Biden’s proposals by the time they reached the Senate.



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Keeping up with the 617: Assessing the state of the Celtics

Entering the All-Star break at 19–17 and fourth in the East, the Celtics have been depleted for much of the first half of the season. Although they've won four straight, dating back to Feb. 26, they've had many questionable losses, including two to the bottom-feeder Detroit Pistons. What has gone wrong?


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Anthro Talks: Coffee

A classic cup of joe. Some re-charging battery acid at 4 a.m. One of the world’s most traded commodities. This buzzing brew commenced in 11th century Ethiopia. Legend has it, a goat herder named Kaldi witnessed his goats’ antsy energy after consuming coffee plant cherries.




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Democracy in The Daily: Saving the Republican Party

Our electoral system is set up for a two-party democracy. Formation of a new center-right party would never work — in fact, it would solidify the rule of the Democratic Party. As a believer in democracy, I offer the following advice to Republicans across the aisle to save their party and maintain U.S. democracy.




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Tales from the T: Next stop, Montreal

It wasn’t until 1889 that College Hill Station opened where the Joyce Cummings Center will stand. This was replaced in 1900 with Tufts College station, roughly where Bacon Hall stands. The Boston and Lowell Railroad’s passenger traffic, however, plummeted after streetcar lines started popping up (including two along College Ave and Broadway by 1925).



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Coffee Talk: Davis Square Donuts & Bagels

Besides being a COVID-19-friendly, local business with great customer service, Davis Square Donuts & Bagels serves some fantastic breakfast. The eggs are fried fresh to order; none of that pre-cooked or microwaved stuff ends up on your sandwich. In summary, waiting for 10 minutes in the rain was well worth it.