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| 10 Reasons I Love Being Jewish |
| Posted on Wednesday, August 26 @ 00:00:14 PDT (8 reads) | |
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from kidney donations to a 3,000-year-old prayer still recited today, here are 10 things that make being jewish worth celebrating.
as we approach the high holidays, i find myself reflecting on the past year, with all its highs and lows. I realize that many of my highlights stem from the joy and pride inherent in jewish life. Here’s my list of ways i’m glad to be part of this crazy, unruly, occasionally maddening, but ultimately loving group called the jewish people.
the talmud notes that “all jews are responsible for one another” (shavuot 39a), and jews continue to act on this today. When hamas kidnapped 251 israelis (not all of whom were jewish) in 2023, jews all over the world came together and prayed, lobbied, and demonstrated for their release.
even in more prosaic times, being jewish can sometimes feel like being part of one big family. Jewish students arriving at college know they can count on a warm welcome in campus jewish organizations. Jewish travelers understand they’ll feel at home when they step into local synagogues, no matter how far away from home.
being jewish means you’re never really alone; you are linked to a wider jewish community that cares about you and will step in to help, support, and celebrate together.
judaism invented the weekend, the original tgif moment at the end of the week when we can pause, take a breath, and switch our minds to a calmer way of being.
“six days shall you work and on the seventh day you shall rest” (exodus 34:21). Thousands of years ago, the torah anticipated the breakneck business that so many of us experience today and proposed an antidote, mandating a day of rest each week for us to relax, reconnect, and remember that it is our humanity, not our productivity, which truly defines us.
donating to charity is a key jewish tenet that jews have followed throughout our history, and still do today, at record levels. One study found that a large majority of american jewish households regularly donated to charity at rates that far exceeded levels for other religious groups’ charitable giving.
tzedakah, the hebrew word for charity, gives us an insight into jewish ways of giving. Unlike the english word charity, which comes from the latin word caritas, meaning affection, the hebrew word tzedaka comes from the root tzedek, meaning righteousness, justice. Whether you feel like it or not, judaism places a demand to help others because it is the right thing to do, regardless of your feelings.
jews lead the world in altruistic kidney donations. Revolutionized in the early 2000s largely by jewish economist alvin e. Roth - who would go on to win a nobel prize in 2012 - altruistic kidney donation seeks to solve the problem of a persistent lack of living kidney donors by encouraging people to donate a kidney to recipients who are unrelated to themselves. Over the past decade, altruistic kidney donation has become a major source of living kidney donations around the world, with jews leading the way.
israel leads the world in altruistic kidney donations, with far more donors per capita than in any other nation. In the united states, fully 17% of altruistic kidney donations are from orthodox jews, despite orthodox jews making up just 0.2% of the population.
its incredible to realize that the jewish traditions we enjoy today connect us to a chain going back thousands of years, anchoring us to the jewish people. Enjoy matzah ball soup? Its roots trace back to mount sinai, when we were commanded to eat matzah instead of leavened bread at passover (exodus 13:6-7). Ever marveled at the beauty of psalm 23, the lord is my shepherd, i shall not want...? King david wrote that timeless prayer over 3,000 years ago. Challah, shabbat candles, apples and honey on rosh hashanah, reciting the shema - these all link us to millennia of jewish existence.
it’s a great responsibility and privilege to be the next link in the jewish chain of tradition.
judaism encourages us to debate, examine, and grapple with deep questions about life, to consider the opinions of others and formulate our own. The talmud, judaism’s core jewish text, is filled with debates, commentaries on those debates, and even commentaries on the commentaries. Jews are encouraged to think deeply about our actions and our world, and to heed the insights of others who’ve similarly delved into life’s meaning.
to be jewish is to be an eternal student, refining our understanding of the world around us. It means always questioning, learning, and growing.
the numbers are staggering: 22% of all nobel prizes ever awarded have been awarded to jews. That’s 217 people, including 14 israelis. This is despite making up just 0.2% of the global population. As your mother might say, what nachas (pride)!
the jewish calendar is jam-packed with holidays that provide a framework for personal growth, and a reason to celebrate. From turning inward and evaluating our actions over the past year on rosh hashanah and yom kippur, to considering the way our ancestors resisted assimilation on hanukkah, enjoying uproarious celebrations on purim, celebrating freedom on passover, and much more, jewish holidays encourage us to think deeply about our lives and faith.
when it comes to our children, jewish holidays give us beautiful ways to transmit our love for judaism and create beautiful memories together.
playing jewish geography is inevitable whenever jews meet. “Where did you grow up?” “What summer camp did you attend?” “Saint louis? Wow, do you know my aunt sadie?”
the goal underlying goal is to establish a jewish connection, no matter how tenuous. Forget six degrees of separation; when it comes to jews, those connections can shrink right down to two or three.
jews are also familiar with the quintessential jewish game of identifying which celebrities are jewish. “Pink? She’s jewish you know.” Ditto for daniel radcliffe, rashida jones, daveed diggs, and many others. That urge to make the jewish connection partly stems from finding the common denominator in this sprawling jewish community we call family.
jewish communities have thrived throughout history. Even in the face of persecution, jews have never stopped contributing to the world: inventing, creating, caring, and trying to make our communities and others a better place.
as mark twain famously wrote in his 1899 essay, concerning the jews:
if the statistics are right, the jews constitute but one percent of the human race. It suggests a nebulous dim puff of star dust lost in the blaze of the milky way.
properly the jew ought hardly to be heard of, but he is heard of, has always been heard of. He is as prominent on the planet as any other people, and his commercial importance is extravagantly out of proportion to the smallness of his bulk.
his contributions to the worlds list of great names in literature, science, art, music, finance, medicine, and abstruse learning are also away out of proportion to the weakness of his numbers. He has made a marvellous fight in the world, in all the ages; and has done it with his hands tied behind him.
he could be vain of himself, and be excused for it. The egyptian, the babylonian, and the persian rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded to dream-stuff and passed away; the greek and the roman followed, and made a vast noise, and they are gone; other peoples have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished.
the jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the jew; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?
there are myriad other reasons i love being jewish, including food, books, music, jewish traditions, and the beauty of the land of israel. In the comment section below, share what makes you proud about being jewish. |
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| The resources behind student success at Iowa State |
| Posted on Wednesday, August 26 @ 00:00:14 PDT (7 reads) | |
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Iowa state is home to more than 30,000 students and hundreds of organizations, services and resources across campus. For students new to campus, understanding what resources are available can help make the transition to college easier.
academic support
the academic success center provides individualized and group support for academic skills, grade improvement and course-specific learning. Students can also meet with academic advisors to plan their coursework and connect with university resources.
other resources are available for specific academic needs. Student accessibility services coordinates accommodations for students with disabilities. Parks library offers study spaces, technology, textbooks and access to librarians who can assist students with research and coursework.
for students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields, wise (women in science and engineering) provides programs, resources and connections for women pursuing stem education and careers.
visit the isu academic support resources webpage for more assistance.
health and well-being
the thielen student health center provides medical care for students and includes an on-site pharmacy, which can fill prescriptions from both thielen providers and outside providers.
for mental health, student counseling services offer individual, group and virtual counseling options. Students can also access student wellness, which provides programs and resources focused on areas such as basic needs, substance use recovery and bystander intervention.
beyond medical and counseling services, recreation services provide opportunities for students to stay active on campus. The department operates three recreation facilities as well as outdoor fields and other recreational spaces.
visit the isu mental health and well-being resources webpage for more support.
financial support
the office of student financial aid administers grants, scholarships, loans and student employment programs. Grants and scholarships are considered gift aid and generally do not need to be repaid, while student loans must be repaid. Students seeking need-based aid must complete the free application for federal student aid (fafsa).
for students looking for financial guidance beyond financial aid, the university also provides financial success resources through the office of student financial success. The office of student financial aid lists financial success as a resource for students seeking assistance with financial questions and planning.
student employment is another option for students looking to earn money while attending isu. All students can search and apply for on-campus jobs through cyhire, and students do not have to qualify for work-study to work on campus. Work-study is a need-based financial aid program in which eligible students earn money through part-time employment and are paid through the university payroll.
visit the isu financial aid support resources webpage for more information.
getting involved
iowa state offers students a variety of ways to get involved outside of the classroom. The university has more than 1,000 student organizations, covering academic, cultural, professional, recreational and special-interest groups.
fraternity and sorority life is another option for students interested in joining a greek organization. Isu has fraternities and sororities representing different councils and offers recruitment and membership opportunities throughout the year.
for students interested in sports without joining a varsity team, intramural sports offers recreational leagues and competitions. Beyond student organizations and sports, there are events and activities throughout the year. These include programs hosted by student organizations, university departments and campus partners, giving students additional opportunities to participate in activities outside of their classes.
visit the isu student organization resources webpage for more information about activities. |
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| ???? ??? from Athens! |
| Posted on Wednesday, August 26 @ 00:00:14 PDT (7 reads) | |
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Hello, my name is audrey gustafson. I had the fantastic opportunity to spend last spring semester studying in athens, greece at the american college of greece.
like most students preparing to study abroad, i had many expectations; some of which were filled in unexpected ways. While i was excited to explore the culture of greece, i anticipated using athens as a home base to explore more of europe. I pictured myself jetting off to a new country every weekend. In reality, i did have the chance to visit a few other countries, however i quickly realized that most of my weekends would be spent at my apartment in athens. I was disappointed at first, however it was a blessing in disguise because it allowed me to spend more time exploring athens and made me cherish the trips i did take that much more. Some of my favorite trips include fulfilling a lifelong dream of experiencing the winter olympics in milan, and visiting a childhood friend at her apartment in london. This expectation for grand adventures extended even down to the daily. I anticipated that my afternoons after class would be packed with sightseeing, museums, and exploring the city. In reality i spent many days just going to class and going home or staying within the neighborhood. While i felt guilty for this at first, like i was not taking advantage of my opportunity abroad, in hindsight, those days spent in my neighborhood were some of my favorites. I enjoyed becoming a regular at our local cafes, reading in the sun at the park, and going on lots and lots of long walks.
while in athens, i took a course called “energy and climate” that changed my perspective on my global theme of resources and sustainability. Throughout my participation in the ccs minor at um, i have taken many classes exploring this topic, however my biggest takeaway from my course abroad was a non-us- centered take on energy. Due to the fact that greece is a smaller country that is rich in wind and solar energy, the way that the government approaches renewable energy is different than in the us. One discussion topic that shaped my perspective was the intersection of environmentalism and archaeology. One of my professors did research on the effect of acid rain on archeological artifacts/monuments. This is a topic that is particularly relevant in greece due to their rich history and archeological wealth. This was such a great example of how environmental topics can be catered to very specific local contexts, a concept that will be applicable to my process in designing a capstone project.
top left: signs in athens, top right: my sister, annika, at the acropolis, middle: a cat on the island of naxos, bottom: making friends on naxos
studying climate change and energy in greece gave me a perspective on my global theme of resources and sustainability outside of the united states that broadened my view on what environmental stewardship can look like. According to an article from the pew research center, surveys show that over 80% to 90% of greeks view climate change as a major, human-driven threat. Additionally, greece operates under european union mandates, providing both a governing framework as well as high public support for renewable energy subsidies. On the other hand, the united states faces deeper ideological divides when it comes to energy policy, as well as quickly shifting national leadership. Climate threats such as wildfires, hurricanes, and draughts effect the united states regionally, leading to localized responses in comparison to a more unified front in greece. It was fascinating to compare a more localized approach to environmental stewardship in the united states, to a top-down approach in greece where decisions are made to satisfy eu guidelines.
studying in athens changed my relationship with time and productivity. Living outside of the united states was a great opportunity to disconnect with “hustle culture” and enjoy living slowly. Instead of living under the expectation that time must be maximized in order to be as productive as possible, the greeks approach long meals, coffee, socializing, and spending time outside much differently. It was refreshing to learn that not every moment needs to be productive or scheduled. This ties in perfectly to the realization that staying in my neighborhood wasn’t “wasting” my study abroad experience. I enjoyed long afternoons reading in the park while old men played chess, or lounging on the beach without feeling like i should also be studying flashcards. I learned that i did not need to “maximize” every free afternoon to have a meaningful experience. Overall my cross-cultural understanding came more from learning to exist comfortably in a culture that was previously unfamiliar to me, than from checking cultural experiences off of a to-do list.
my time abroad changed the way i approach interpersonal interactions. Building a new network of friends and acquaintances in the three months abroad required rapid vulnerability. During a typical semester or even college in general, there is ample time to build and deepen connections. On the other hand, the three months spent abroad left little time for gradual relationship building. I found it challenging to deepen friendships over the short amount of time that i was abroad. This concept is not unfamiliar to me because the same problem exists during short summer field seasons working guiding or field jobs. The skills that i built this semester will be applicable to my career sincei will likely be working many seasonal positions.
despite the challenges that come with any experience abroad, i am very grateful to have had the opportunity to study abroad in athens! |
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| A Journey Through Greece, One Lesson at a Time |
| Posted on Wednesday, August 26 @ 00:00:14 PDT (7 reads) | |
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This past may, i was one of 38 student athletes who had the incredible opportunity to study abroad while traveling throughout greece for the sociology of sport with the school or liberal arts’ slam program and the tulane university athletics department.
every day brought a new adventure, whether we were exploring ancient ruins, wandering through historic cities, trying authentic greek food, or learning about the countrys rich sports history and culture. This experience reminded me that some of the best learning happens by embracing new places and experiences, as well as new people.
throughout the program, greece became our classroom. Instead of reading about history, we walked through it. Exploring athens and standing beneath the parthenon on the acropolis was something i had only imagined, and seeing it in person gave me a much greater appreciation for greeces lasting influence on the world.
one of the highlights of the trip was visiting ancient olympia, the birthplace of the olympic games. As a college athlete, this experience was especially meaningful. Walking through the site where the first olympic athletes competed gave me a new appreciation for the history of sport and the values of dedication and perseverance that continue to inspire athletes today.
another unforgettable experience was traveling to the island of crete and also getting to explore the beautiful city of nafplio. Each destination offered something different, from breathtaking views of beaches and mountains to historic landmarks with welcoming communities and local traditions. Every place we visited gave me a deeper understanding of greek culture and history.
beyond the famous sites, some of my favorite memories came from the everyday moments — sharing meals with my classmates, exploring local shops, and simply taking in each new experience. This trip taught me the importance of keeping an open mind and stepping outside of my comfort zone. I returned home with a greater appreciation for greek culture, lifelong memories, and a broader perspective on the world. Greece reminded me that the best learning doesnt always happen in a classroom — it happens through the people you meet, the places you explore, and the experiences youre willing to embrace. |
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| Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame: Nets who are (potentially) Next Up |
| Posted on Wednesday, August 26 @ 00:00:14 PDT (7 reads) | |
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Another naismith basketball hall of fame induction ceremony has just come and gone. While that means we’re still several months away from when next year’s class will be announced, we are a few steps closer to it, when several nets could have a shot being immortalized forever in springfield, massachusetts.
naismith basketball hall of fame: nets who are (potentially) next up
the nets are connected to a variety of potential hall of famers. Here’s who could be next up in 2027.
the newbies
neither mike d’antoni nor amar’e stoudemire will be remembered for their brief stints as nets assistant coaches, but they did contribute to some of the most exciting basketball we’ve seen from the organization in recent years.
d’antoni operated as an assistant coach under steve nash during the 2020-21 season, where brooklyn was a toenail away from the eastern conference finals, and likely more. Stoudemire also served under nash that season and for the 2021-22 campaign. Congrats to the both of them.
guys with fair cases
with the aforementioned inductions now completed, there are 247 players currently eligible to go into the hall next summer. Of that group, there are 11 former nets ranking in the top 50 for total win shares. There’s no bonafide, correct metric to judge a player’s hall of fame candidacy on, but we’re going to roll with that to narrow things down.
second in win shares is buck williams (1981-1998), who has as good of a case as anyone, and his jersey hanging in the rafters at the barclays center. He played for the nets from 1981-1989, making three all-star teams, four all-defensive teams, and one all-nba team. He also won rookie of the year in 1981.
before lamarcus aldridge (2007-2022) played the last two years of his career in brooklyn, he made seven all-star and five all-nba teams. He’s fourth in win shares among the aforementioned 247-man crowd of candidates. Jason terry (2000-2018) is 15th, and another player who spent the latter years of his career in the borough. He’s got an nba title and the 2008-09 sixth man of the year award to his name.
further down the list we have paul milsap (2006-2022), who appeared in just 24 games for the nets during his final nba season. He also made one all-defensive and four all-nba teams. P.J. Brown (1994-2008) ranks 26th in win shares. He played his first three years in the nba with the nets before moving on to make three all-defensive teams and win a title with the 2007-08 boston celtics. The late clifford robinson (1990-2007) is only two slots behind him. He played the last two years of his career in new jersey, but snatched a sixth man of the year award, one all-star, and two all-defensive team nods before that.
things round out with anthony mason (1988-2003), who played his rookie season with the nets before later making an all-star, all-nba, and all-defensive team, along with the 1994-95 sixth man of the year award. Sam cassell (1993-2008) made an all-star, an all-nba team and won three rings, all after the nets traded him in 1999 following one and half seasons with the franchise.
you all know richard jefferson (2001-2018), who has the 42nd most win shares on this list after spending the first seven years of his career with the nets. He made an all-rookie team and was a valued role player when the cleveland cavaliers won it all in 2016. Joe johnson (2002-2022) is right behind him, having made seven all-star teams and an all-nba one. He was a net from 2012-2016. Then, we have blake griffin (2011-2023), who’s a six-time all-star, five-time all-nba player, and the 2010-11 rookie of the year. He played two seasons in brooklyn from 2021-2022.
newer and noteworthy, but weaker cases
there are also a few other notable players who’ve recently attained eligibility and at one point or another donned brooklyn’s black and white. Neither of these two players broke the top-50 in win shares, but they do have cases to be argued if you position them right.
goran dragic (2008-2023) is widely regarded as one of the greatest slovenian basketball players of all-time. He also made one all-star and one all-nba team. He earned the 2013-14 most improved player of the year award, nine years before he’d join brooklyn for 16 games to close out their 2021-22 season. Jamal crawford (2001-2020) has as interesting of a case as you’ll find. He never made an all-star or all-nba team, but did win three sixth man of the year awards, tied for the most with lou williams.
naismith basketball hall of fame candidates are often announced in stages starting in december. Final inductees are typically unveiled in early april.
an interesting long shot
kyle hines works for the nets organization as assistant player development coach in brooklyn and assistant gm in long island. He never played in the nba, but the naismith hall of fame honors not just those with league credentials, but those who are among the best to ever play the game. Hines, who turns 40 next week, played 16 seasons in europe, dominating the continent until he retired in 2024.
here’s a compendium of his accomplishments while playing in italy, germany, greece and russia: four-time euroleague champion, six-time russian league (vtb) champion, three-time italian league champion as well as rings in the greece and german leagues. Individually, he was named to the euroleague all-decade team and the euroleague 25th anniversary team as well as the russian league hall of fame. Three times, he was named the best defender in europe, etc. Etc.
a native of sicklerville, n.J., Outside camden where he founded the team hines 42 foundation, he played college ball at unc-greensboro. In other words, he checks all the boxes. |
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| Wabash College gets high ratings in Princeton Review | News | kpcnews.com |
| Posted on Wednesday, August 26 @ 00:00:14 PDT (7 reads) | |
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Crawfordsville – with rankings that cover the entirety of the college experience, wabash college continues to have a strong profile in the princeton review’s 2027 college guide, which spotlights 392 highly rated colleges and universities.
the college received mentions in 21 of 50 categories, including top-10 citations in 11 categories, many of which center on the student experience: most active student government (no. 2), lots of race/class interaction (no. 4), lots of greek life (no. 5), everyone plays intramural sports (no. 5), best health services (no. 5), most accessible professors (no. 9), best college newspaper (no. 10), students love their school teams (no. 10), and most politically conservative students (no. 10). |
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| Lyon College Adds New Assistant Coach For Volleyball Team |
| Posted on Wednesday, August 26 @ 00:00:14 PDT (7 reads) | |
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Batesville, ar – lyon college head volleyball coach paeton tucker has appointed maria eleni bampiri as the assistant coach for the fighting scots volleyball program.
“from friends to teammates to now working side by side, i am thrilled to have coach bampiri with us! As two lyon alums on staff, i am excited to have coach bampiri help me bring back some more of the old lyon college spirit while embracing the new,” said tucker. “She continues to be a hard worker and a wonderful person to be around, and i am intrigued to learn and see what else she brings to our program! Welcome back, coach bampiri!”
bampiri brings a wealth of knowledge from both her playing and coaching career. As a student-athlete, she was a four-year member of the fighting scots volleyball teams that were a constant presence in the american midwest conference tournament. Bampiri earned american midwest conference all-conference honors in 2021.
she brings coaching experience from the high school, club, and college ranks, beginning her career as a volunteer assistant coach for the whitfield high school men’s volleyball team while still a senior. Her first head coaching experience came in her native greece with the club ao markopoulou, where she served as the head coach for the under-15 team and assistant coach for the under-17 team. After lyon, she was a graduate assistant coach for the william woods university women’s volleyball team in 2022. During her time with the owls, she helped coach an american volleyball coaches association all-midwest region first team player, an american midwest conference defensive player of the year, multiple amc all-conference players, and an appearance in the amc conference championship semifinals.
“excited to officially begin this new chapter at lyon college. After calling lyon home as a student-athlete from 2018–2022, getting the opportunity to return as a coach makes this moment even greater,” said bampiri. “I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to coach alongside a great coach/friend, learn and grow with her, and be part of building something special”.
she is a native of porto rafti, greece, earning a bachelor of science in business administration and management from lyon college in 2022 and earned a master in business administration from william woods university in 2024. |
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| 10 Books That Are a Masterclass in Prose |
| Posted on Wednesday, August 26 @ 00:00:14 PDT (8 reads) | |
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We all love a good plot, but some novels reel us in purely with their words. The greatest prose stylists understand rhythm, imagery, metaphor, dialogue, and perspective so completely that practically every paragraph seems to hum with energy.
of course, theres no single definition of beautiful prose. Some masterpieces use simple writing, while others get dense, lyrical, or even experimental. Taken together, the books on this list remind us that language itself can be an art form.
10 the secret history (1992)
beauty is terror. Donna tartts phenomenal debut novel centers on richard papen after he joins an exclusive circle of classics students at a prestigious vermont college. However, what begins as intellectual fascination and the pursuit of knowledge eventually curdles into obsession, selfishness, betrayal, and even murder. Although the plot bears some dark thriller/mystery hallmarks, tartt takes a decidedly literary approach in telling it. For instance, she packs the pages with countless allusions to greek mythology and classic literature.
the sentence construction is elegant and frequently beautiful. This amount of stylistic confidence is striking for a first novel. Tartt also excels at atmosphere, immersing us in descriptions of icy new england winters and crackling fireplaces in isolated old university buildings. Finally, theres real psychological insight in the prose, with all the major characters drawn in shades of gray.
9 the sound and the fury (1929)
i give you the mausoleum of all hope and desire. This is one of william faulkners defining novels. The sound and the fury charts the decline of the once-prominent compson family through four distinct narrative voices, each possessing its own unique rhythms, vocabulary, and perception of reality. Faulkners prose changes dramatically between sections, reflecting the mind of each narrator. Indeed, the book is highly experimental and pushed serious boundaries back in the late 1920s.
for example, much of it is stream-of-consciousness, the narrators are often unreliable, and the chronology is fractured, while the mood and aesthetic are southern gothic to the core. Sentences often flow according to memory and emotion rather than storytelling conventions or, indeed, logic. All this is in service to the sweeping themes, touching on everything from nihilism and faith to morality and the weight of the past.
8 the brothers karamazov (1880)
the mystery of human existence lies not in staying alive, but in finding something to live for. Plenty of dostoyevsky novels could have made this list, though the brothers karamazov is one of the best-written of them. It follows the deeply dysfunctional karamazov family after the murder of the cruel and manipulative fyodor pavlovich. His three sons, dmitri, ivan, and alyosha, embody profoundly different worldviews. Through them, dostoyevsky explores a ton of big, challenging ideas: faith, goodness, free will, justice, suffering, and the nature of evil.
psychological intensity and moral depth are at a premium here. Part of what makes dostoyevskys prose here great is that it captures the complexity of human thought without simplifying it. Characters frequently wrestle with contradictory emotions and philosophical uncertainty, creating conversations that feel startlingly alive more than a century after they were written.
7 the corrections (2001)
families carry entire histories inside ordinary conversations. This was the book that put jonathan franzen on the map, with many hailing it as a new great american novel. The corrections is a portrait of the lambert family in the late 20th century, shifting back and forth in time but focusing on aging parents alfred and enids struggle to reunite their three adult children for one final christmas together. Along the way, each family member confronts personal disappointments, professional failures, romantic complications, and long-buried resentments.
the corrections is a brilliant ensemble character study, one packed with subtle humor and sharp observations. In particular, it shows off franzens extraordinary ability to reveal character through seemingly ordinary details. In his hands, everyday conversations and seemingly throwaway internal reflections can say a lot. Finally, on the style front, his sentences are engaging and accessible without ever sacrificing nuance.
6 the haunting of hill house (1959)
whatever walked there, walked alone. The haunting of hill house is one of the greatest horror novels of all time, hugely influencing so much writing that followed. In it, the unstable young eleanor vance joins a small group investigating the supposedly haunted hill house. As increasingly disturbing events unfold, author shirley jackson gradually blurs the line between supernatural haunting and psychological deterioration.
the writing is dark and creepy but also beautiful and economical, holding the readers attention the whole way through. The paragraphs carry a subtle but palpable unease, so that the book feels scary even when nothing overtly spooky is actually happening. This restraint proves more effective than explicit horror could ever be. Not to mention, the descriptions make hill house itself feel like a character, a conscious malevolent entity analyzing its prey and probing at their weaknesses.
5 in search of lost time (1913–1927)
the real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes. This is really a seven-volume series, frequently ranked among the greatest in all literature. The plot (such as it is) is concerned with the narrators memories as a child in late 19th-century france, and then his adulthood in the 1900s. That said, its more about emotion and perception than narrative, far more interested in the inner workings of the protagonists mind than the literal events of his life.
we get a front-row seat to the characters feelings about everything from art and adolescence to jealousy, love, high society, and, of course, the passage of time. Through it all, prousts prose is almost musical, consisting of long, flowing, ornate sentences that often build toward some kind of emotional or intellectual revelation. It adds up to a powerful statement on the power of memory and creativity.
4 moby-dick (1851)
call me ishmael. Moby-dick is striking right from the get-go, hitting us with its legendary opening line and expanding from there. Plot-wise, its told from the perspective of the character ishmael aboard the whaling ship pequod under the command of the obsessive captain ahab, who relentlessly pursues the white whale that took his leg. His quest becomes a vehicle through which herman melville comments on ambition, fate, revenge, and humanitys relationship with nature.
themes aside, the writing itself is incredibly ambitious, melding various tones and styles. For instance, the book oscillates between shakespearean grandeur, biblical cadences, philosophical meditation, scientific observation, and thrilling adventure. Even passages devoted to whaling techniques and whale anatomy become unexpectedly beautiful because of the richness of melvilles language and the force of his imagination. Talk about a classic.
3 one hundred years of solitude (1967)
many years later, as he faced the firing squad... A cornerstone of magical realism, one hundred years of solitude chronicles multiple generations of the buendía family in the isolated town of macondo, where love, war, memory, mysticism, and history intertwine across decades. Miraculous events unfold alongside ordinary domestic life with complete naturalness. Here, the fantastical and the mundane exist side by side.
here, gabriel garcía márquezs writing style is lyrical yet clear, defined by rich imagery, memorable metaphors, flowing rhythms, and luminous descriptions. His language gives macondo the feeling of a place suspended somewhere between fact and myth. Some paragraphs are amazingly intricate. Take the opening one, for instance, which pivots between three different time periods in a single sentence. Overall, the books style was hugely influential, with countless writers around the world channeling it in their own stories.
2 blood meridian (1985)
whatever exists without my knowledge exists without my consent. Frequently cited as cormac mccarthys masterwork, blood meridian is a brutal, bloody, biblical western/horror/drama hybrid set on the american frontier. There, our protagonist (known only as the kid) joins the notorious glanton gang, a group of scalp hunters wandering across the american southwest and northern mexico during the mid-nineteenth century. Their journey becomes an uncompromising meditation on violence, destiny, morality, and human natures darker impulses.
mccarthys prose is remarkable for its capacity to find beauty within desolate landscapes and horrifying events. Vast deserts, towering mountains, violent storms, and moments of unimaginable cruelty are all described with the same poetic intensity. The sentences are grand and stark, hypnotic and breathtaking, making the wild west feel timeless and terrifying.
1 ulysses (1922)
history is a nightmare from which i am trying to awake. Written by the iconic james joyce, ulysses is one of the landmark modernist novels, representing so much of what made that movement interesting. Set over the course of a single day in dublin, the novel follows leopold bloom, stephen dedalus, and numerous other characters as their lives intersect in ways both ordinary and profound. In the process, joyce transforms everyday routines into epic experiences through constant stylistic experimentation.
at the time, ulysses innovated in all sorts of ways, breaking open new possibilities of what the novel could accomplish as a medium. It uses stream-of-consciousness and interior monologues, incorporates foreign languages, frequently deploys onomatopoeia, and even invents new words, its style shifting constantly across its 18 episodes. All this is intended to mirror the chaos and depth of the human mind. |
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| Aja Wilson represents Alpha Kappa Alpha in NBA 2K27 |
| Posted on Wednesday, August 26 @ 00:00:14 PDT (8 reads) | |
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Aja wilson is, of course, featured in the latest edition of nba 2k, but shes seen repping alpha kappa alpha in a brand-new way. Wilson appears in the game not only as a playable character on her team, the las vegas aces, but also on the main menu. There, wilson showcases some alpha kappa alpha stroll moves.
[a’ja wilson]& aka representation in nba 2k27????[Pic.Twitter.Com/mcwzl8rmhj]— naeohmii aka female mp???????????? (@Naeohmii_2k)
[august 25, 2026]
wilson is not shy in showcasing her affiliation with the oldest historically black sorority in the nation. In a quote obtained by espnw and andscape, wilson spoke about the sororitys impact on her life.
“i am so grateful for the sisterhood that i formed in college through aka. It allowed me to be a woman. As i’ve gotten older and become a leader, i have to credit aka and our sisterhood when it comes to that.”
shes also shown love for the sorority via her nike aone and atwo branded shoes. She recently revealed the nike a2 pinkies up colorway, a new edition of the signature sneaker with the pink and green colors popularized by the sorority.
alpha kappa alpha was established at howard university in 1908 by nine collegiate women and has since grown into one of the largest black greek-letter organizations in the world, with a membership exceeding 355,000 across 12 countries.
wilson joined the sororitys theta gamma chapter in 2017 while a student at the university of south carolina, becoming part of a sisterhood whose ranks include prominent figures across politics, business, entertainment, and sports.
nba 2k27 releases officially on september 4th, with early access beginning on august 26. |
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| Lyon College Names Former Fighting Scot Maria Eleni Bampiri Assistant Volleyball |
| Posted on Wednesday, August 26 @ 00:00:14 PDT (8 reads) | |
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Lyon college head volleyball coach paeton tucker has appointed former fighting scot maria eleni bampiri as assistant coach of the college’s volleyball program.
bampiri returns to lyon after playing for the fighting scots from 2018 through 2022.
tucker said she is excited to welcome her former friend and teammate back to batesville as a fellow coach.
“from friends to teammates to now working side by side, i am thrilled to have coach bampiri with us,” tucker said. “As 2 lyon alums on staff, i am excited to have coach bampiri help me bring back some more of the old lyon college spirit while embracing the new.”
tucker described bampiri as a hard worker and a wonderful person to be around. She said she is excited to see what bampiri brings to the fighting scots program.
bampiri was a 4-year member of lyon volleyball teams that regularly competed in the american midwest conference tournament.
she earned american midwest conference all-conference honors in 2021.
bampiri brings coaching experience from the high school, club and college levels.
she began her coaching career as a volunteer assistant for the whitfield high school men’s volleyball team while she was still a senior.
her 1st head-coaching opportunity came in her native greece with ao markopoulou. She served as head coach of the club’s under-15 team and assistant coach of its under-17 team.
following her playing career at lyon, bampiri joined the william woods university women’s volleyball program as a graduate assistant in 2022.
during her time with the owls, she helped coach an american volleyball coaches association all-midwest region 1st team selection, an american midwest conference defensive player of the year and multiple amc all-conference players.
william woods also reached the american midwest conference championship semifinals during her time with the program.
“excited to officially begin this new chapter at lyon college,” bampiri said. “After calling lyon home as a student-athlete from 2018–2022, getting the opportunity to return as a coach makes this moment even greater.”
bampiri said she is grateful for the opportunity to coach alongside tucker, continue learning and help build something special at lyon.
a native of porto rafti, greece, bampiri earned a bachelor of science in business administration and management from lyon college in 2022.
she earned a master of business administration from william woods university in 2024.
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