Interview: Chris Fanning on “Outdoor Nation”
This June, thousands of young people will descend upon New York City’s Central Park to participate in the first ever Outdoor Nation Festival and Summit. Along with some rock climbing, kayaking and fishing in the world’s iconic urban park, more than 500 young leaders from across the country will engage in some heated policy discussion…
From Casual “Hangout” to a “Concert for the Coast”
The chance to make a difference sometimes comes in unexpected packages. Huka Entertainment, a popular concert promoter in Mobile, AL, set out to produce a large-scale concert festival on the beach in nearby Gulf Shores. With the white sands and emerald green water of the region as a primary selling point, they garnered a healthy…
The Cultural Politics of “Phan” versus “Scholar”
I have a doctoral degree in performance studies. I teach at a fairly reputable West Coast university, only three years away from that holy grail of educators, tenure. I consider myself a scholar, in that I’ve worked long and hard — reading, writing, and thinking a lot — in order to be able to gain…
Nashville Needs Our Help
Although I’m a native New Yorker, now residing in Texas with stints in St. Louis and Los Angeles in between, there is “no place I’d rather be” than Tennessee. Memphis and Nashville have been frequent vacation destinations and logical road trip stopping points for me over the last near-decade of my life. This is not…
Muddy Waters in Aftermath of Spill
Was Barack Obama’s support of offshore drilling just an ill-timed compromise or a complete capitulation to corporate interests? That’s a question that might linger as long as the oil slick itself. The fact that the spill came just weeks after Obama announced his plan to allow additional offshore has already invited some conspiracy theories and…
Put A Lid On It: Patching the Earth’s Wound at 5000 Feet
The Gulf Coast oil spill presents a wide array of problems, none more urgent than figuring out how to immediately contain the leak. The project is an engineer’s wet dream, (no pun intended.) They’ve created an “Oil containment dome” that is ready to be placed atop the sunken Deepwater Horizon rig that continues to spew…
SWAT Team Raids Families Home and Kills Dog. Finds a Bong.
Last month, HeadCount’s Community Question asked “what personal liberty issues are most important to you?” Those who participated in the poll overwhelmingly chose marijuana legalization among the 4 choices. So it’s pretty certain that this video of a marijuana raid that took place at a family home in Columbia, Missouri in February will stir some…
A Spring Fling to Remember
With the end of school approaching, many students and graduates find themselves in a transitional stage while moving home, starting a new job or simply having a summer of freedom. If that’s you, then it’s also the best possible time to give a little of your free time and volunteer for a cause. Maybe you’ll…
Health Care Reform Issue Update: Making History
Millions opposed and millions had hope. The country was split but the Congress’ vote was 219 – 212 in favor of Health Care Reform. There have been jokes and somber anecdotes, but the century-long quest for near universal coverage came to a climax a month ago, when the reform bill was signed into law. Whether or not all…
Bob Weir, Roots ‘Dancing In the Street’ At Earth Day
Last Sunday, Bob Weir joined Sting, John Legend, the Staple Singers, and Fall Out Boy singer Patrick Stump on Washington, DC’s National Mall for the Earth Day Climate Rally. Backed by the Roots, as were all the day’s acts, Weir laid down a slinky “Dancing in the Streets” in honor of Earth Day’s 40th birthday….