Always have something to look forward to. If you can’t think of anything, create one. Seeing a friend, watching the Bills game, going for a hike, whatever - we can’t do much beyond leaving the house, given the current circumstances. Still, humans have continually proven to be resourceful in a bind like ours. Give yourself … Continue reading New Year’s Resolutions for 2021
Originally published in the Silent Noise on June 8, 2019. In recent months, foreign relations between the United States and its Middle Eastern adversary Iran have taken a turn for the worse. Four years ago, with President Obama and the United Nations’ signing of the landmark nuclear deal, the long-standing tense relationship between the US … Continue reading Pressure in the Persian Gulf
Originally published in the Silent Noise on April 18, 2019. “How about I just call you Pete?” So said talk show host Bill Maher after a somewhat botched name attempt during a televised interview with presidential newcomer Pete Buttigieg. From what we can currently see, the difficult last name is the only thing currently proving … Continue reading Pronounced “Boot-Edge-Edge”
Originally published in the Silent Noise on March 14, 2019. Whether you like it or not, the 2020 presidential election cycle is now under way. While many wounds are still fresh in Americans’ minds from the particularly divisive election in 2016, candidates are up and running in their race to the White House. The debate … Continue reading Off to the Races
Originally published in the Silent Noise on January 25, 2019. When fifty million Democratic hearts sank through the floor in the early morning of November 9th, 2016, the journey of the bluer half’s stages of grief kicked off with a moment of disbelief. Donald Trump, the billionaire reality star who had been the laughing stock … Continue reading Melodrama from Moscow
Originally published in the Silent Noise on December 31, 2018. It seems the universe has bestowed an early Christmas gift upon Gary Johnson, who is presumably ready to waltz out of a broom closet somewhere in New Mexico and celebrate. Once again, our elected officials simply couldn’t decide whatever to do with the taxpayers’ dime … Continue reading Government Shutdowns: Not the Purge
Originally published in the Silent Noise on December 2, 2018. When I was initially approached about serving as an MC for our school’s Musical Scenes production, I immediately had a grand vision of an epic rap opera, a spectacular story of love, liberty, and loss localized within the theatre. I was subsequently informed that (1) … Continue reading Behind the Musical Scenes
Originally published in the Silent Noise on November 14, 2018. Before a few months ago, any Western New York political pundit would laugh at the prospect of a Democrat standing a chance in the deep-red rural 27th congressional district. After the groundbreaking indictment of Rep. Chris Collins, that’s precisely what went down. Chris Collins was … Continue reading The Fight for NY-27
Originally published in the Silent Noise on October 9, 2018. While many of our City Honors students have been out and about, some getting their tan on at the beach and others escaping the heat in the comfort of their homes, Capitol Hill has hardly had the leisure that we’ve grown accustomed to during this … Continue reading Summer 2018 Recap
Originally published in the Silent Noise at May 31, 2018. To the average American teenager, most issues endlessly debated by loud politicians in suits on Capitol Hill - trade deficits, Social Security, and campaign finance reform, to name a few - seem distant, a matter irrelevant to the typical high schooler, reserved solely for the … Continue reading The Cannabis Conundrum
Patrick Swain 