Tag Archives: ben kharakh
Voting is Less than the Least that You Can Do ~ Ben Kharakh
To me, voting seems like less than the least that one can do. And to say that this sort of sentiment breeds apathy is mistaken. You can be civic-minded and active and still not vote. In fact, I’d take a community of people who care about each other and are active participants in each other’s lives over a community of voters any day of the week.
Inside JVP: An Interview with Brendan Kaplan by Ben Kharakh
Brendan Kaplan fascinates me (as one can tell by the length of this interview). I find his history intriguing and his views intellectually stimulating, and this Q and A showcases quite well why that is. Years teaching tap and hip-hop, a high school where the students can suspend the teachers, a steadfast commitment to honesty, housing a paranoid schizophrenic; these are just some of the things that make Brendan Kaplan Brendan Kaplan.
Lower the Voting Age ~ Ben Kharakh
“I think fourteen-year-olds should be allowed to vote,” I told my girlfriend. “Why not thirteen-year-olds?” she asked. “Sure, they can too.” “Twelve-year-olds?” “Sure, why not?” “Eleven-year-olds?” I paused to think. “You, know, I’m not sure how long someone should be a part of a rigorous education system before they’re critically thinking.” “Then how about you can vote when you think you’re ready to vote?” she asked. “Perfect!” I said.
Inside JVP: An Interview with Marlana Moore by Ben Kharakh
Marlana Moore is the sort of staff member one wants to have: dedicated, enthusiastic, and capable and willing to write on any issue. She brought this same spirit to our Q and A, asking me as many questions as I asked her! And while I was pulled partway under the spotlight, Marlana remains at center stage, which is good news since she has plenty to say and a unique way to say it.
Why The Social Network Fails to Capture the Modern Zeitgeist ~ Ben Kharakh
A lot of hub-bub has been made over The Social Network. And regardless of whether or not I enjoyed the film, I didn’t think it captured the modern zeitgeist in the way so many reviews claimed it did.
Inside JVP: An Interview with Rebecca Zandstein by Ben Kharakh
Readers only get a taste of Gourmet Grub editor Rebbeca Zandstein from her articles, so with this Q and A I was aiming to serve up a hearty portion of Becca. As our conversation progressed, I learned plenty about my fellow JVPer that I didn’t know, so much so that a single piece simply will not suffice. Luckily, Becca’s the sort of writer that can be counted on to provide her fair share of articles, so I wouldn’t be surprised if some of what we talked about ends up inspiring future pieces. Until then, bon appetit!
Inside JVP: An interview with Jhoany Benitez by Ben Kharakh
I’ve seen a lot of people pass through the JVP’s Internet doors, so I don’t start to think of someone as a regular until they’ve made a sizable amount of contributions. I first noticed Jhoany at meetings in the Spring of 2010, but it wasn’t until this Fall that she’d really proved herself to be one of JVP’s MVPs. If the JVP is a sports team, then Jhoany is whatever position one who is more familiar with sports than myself would reference in order to make an effective analogy
Inside JVP: An Interview with Dave Imbriaco by Ben Kharakh
One of the perks of being a journalist is that I get an excuse to satiate my curiosity. Case in point: this new feature in which I interview my JVPeers about themselves. I kicked things off with an autobiographical essay so that you’d get to know a little bit about me and a Q and A with Dave Imbriaco.
Scams and Flams at Your Local Bank ~ Ben Kharakh
I signed on to TDBank.com to check my balance when I was greeted by an offer to get the TD Bank Debit Card Advance i.e. “Overdraft Protection.” “Great!” I thought, “No more worrying about fees!” Except, no, Overdraft Protections means that my bank will, as a courtesy, allow me to overdraft for a fee of $35. I called up TD Bank to ask them about what was going on to make sure I was getting things straight.
Exit Through the Gift Expo ~ Ben Kharakh
When a movie’s so bad it’s good, audience members delight in the unintentional hilarity that ensues when enthusiasm meets lack of talent. It’s not just on the big screen where inadvertent merriment can be found. As a journalist, I get countless invitations to events that seem destined to be so-bad-they’re-good, like this gift expo I went to.
