There’s a growing trend online that doesn’t get nearly enough scrutiny. People are confusing confidence with credentials. And it’s getting dangerous.

In our ongoing look at American Independents, we’ve already explored who they are and how they’ve evolved over the decades. Today, let’s dig into where things stand now — and what might lie ahead.

Evil never portrays a laugh, a smirk, or a smile. It blinks you in eye, smacks your lips, and stuffs your nose. One way out is to believe there is one.

I’m not an economist but reflecting on the recent financial fluctuations and general state of affairs, I believe there is a vital element the experts have overlooked. Marbles.

Passing a construction site, yesterday, I parked my car alongside the roadway and watched for about half an hour while workmen methodically dismantled a building that had served, faithfully, for years as an elementary school. My gaze tracked a crack in the old sidewalk alongside what was left of the south wall, up the front steps, toward the side door, and wandered into fuzzy memories of Bobby pulling Paula’s hair in geography class and Freda kissing Bif on the playground near the swings. Both felonies, now, but at one time regarded as almost a rite of passage.

Every masterpiece, every impactful story, every profound human interaction carries within it a hidden architecture – a "creative code" that dictates its resonance. As "Unseen Architects," our mission is to peel back the layers of the obvious and decipher these silent languages of expression. And where better to begin than at the very threshold of a story: its opening line. A single sentence can act as a master key, unlocking worlds, setting tones, and imprinting indelible impressions. But how? What precise combination of words, rhythm, and intent transforms a simple declaration into an enduring fragment of literary power? It's not magic; it's code.

A convicted child therapist proves what ethics professionals already know: credentials don't protect people—ethics do.

DEAR ASK A PUNK - I’m 28 years old and I’ve been punk since I was 14. I went to every show (not that we had many of them here in a tiny town in the middle of huge ol’ Texas), skateboarded everywhere, bought a guitar, played in my bands, partied and drank and had what I thought was a good time. I also grew apart from my family and did a lot of stuff I’m not proud of and was basically a pain in the A to everyone for a long time. But things are different now. I got saved (and sober) six months ago and now I’m getting my life on track and figuring out what I’m going to do next that’ll glorify His name and make me a more worthy person. I’m torn between shutting the door of my past completely or reaching back and trying to pull some of my former friends out with me. So should I go back and become a punk preacher or should DIY also apply to saving yourself? …Saved.

Science confirms fish feel pain. So why do we treat recreational killing like a rite of passage instead of what it really is—domination with a nostalgia filter?

Land of the stupidity & life of a scam. America is Quite Literally ass backwards. Everything that's different is shunned, everything that is not "in line" disappears...

Juneteenth wasn't born from hashtags or holiday sales. It was a blood-earned moment—made possible by rifles, risk, and a party most folks no longer recognize.

I glanced out of the driver’s side window of my car, toward the bus stop, just in time to see 230 lbs. of frustration and insecurity, packed in a flowery muumuu, wielding what looked to be a King James Bible like it was a set of nun chucks.

Today, we take a closer look at the primordial goddess Nyx and what exactly is a primordial and how that plays into her role as the Goddess of Night

Today, we talk about the Greek god Chaos. While he is not a god themselves, it is still noted that he fully understands that some other gods came into being.

Hello and welcome to the study of Greek gods. I will cover the many Ancient Greek gods that have been studied for generations. This is an introduction to what you will see

What’s happening on NoKings Day on June 14, 2025, isn’t just protest—it’s ancestral trauma erupting through bloodlines that never got the chance to heal.

A forensic, fact-based look at the rising tension between generational trauma, public fear, and the racial blame game nobody wants to admit is rigged from all sides.

Barbadine was a fruit I knew little about until my father constructed an abour on which the vine could grow.

Given the title of the stream, I thought I would start with defining ethnohistory. This is an unpublished reflection essay that I wrote in 2011 for a graduate seminar at the University of Kentucky. The essay asks simply what is ethnohistory?

In the vibrant tapestry of growing up, an African American teen navigates a world filled with both familiar joys and unique perspectives. Their days are a blend of school, friendships, music, and dreams, much like any other young person. Yet, woven into their story is the rich heritage of their ancestors, the strength of their community, and the ongoing journey of understanding their place in the world. It's a life of finding their voice, celebrating their culture, and rising with resilience