“How bad is it?” She peered through her black, thick-rimmed glasses as she shifted elegantly in the soft leather seat. “Badly” Rai returned matter-of-factly. “You okay?” Simone was as close to a guardian angel as they came. She knew instinctually when people were in pain, distress, or even slightly out of balance, and could timeContinue reading “Insurrection Incarnation”
Author Archives: John Katrina
Episode 1 – John Katrina and Alien Perspective
Death Lessons
To my friends who are children, I say you are experiencing an unveiling. An unveiling, at a distance, of the harsher realities of existence as a biological being on earth. The mysteries we are at the mercy of … the moral judgements we must make: life, death, freedom, economics, the prices of them, the exasperatingContinue reading “Death Lessons”
Artificial Morality
“It was easier when you could tell the difference between droids and humans.” Zeek Wilburn had the vestiges of a bygone era draped like priests’ vestments over his words. “Best thing that ever happened was when the Supreme Court declared droids have equal rights.” Joshua Milia had a black or white view of the solarContinue reading “Artificial Morality”
Love Small
When we hear that a company donates a portion of their profits to charity we feel impressed, gratified, and perhaps, altruistic to a degree. And it makes sense – we are helping someone less fortunate. Who are we helping? It doesn’t matter, does it? What matters is the good deed. Right? But what if weContinue reading “Love Small”
The Art of Fasting
Fasting conjures up many different impressions in our minds. Religious rituals, political protests, dietary management, and medical purposes are some of the varied reasons people might decide to fast. But in an obese nation of excess food, and not surprisingly, ubiquitous fast food, we don’t really fast well. I am fasting as I write this,Continue reading “The Art of Fasting”
Coffee in the Cosmos
Rai smelled the coffee straight out of the can and thought that it’s all he needs right now … the comfort of the aroma as his mother brewed it when he was a child, to now – 40 plus odd years later, turned the world into a warm cocoon around his psyche.
Thankful for Not Belonging
All my life, I always got along with different groups but never felt completely myself in any one. Any group, occupation or title always felt like it was selling me short, or incomplete, never a perfect fit … it became one of my core philosophical questions: Why do I feel discontent, not at home, inContinue reading “Thankful for Not Belonging”
Heavenly Bells
1979. October. An innocent and divine excitement mingles with the vivid autumn colors. It was the most anticipated day of my short ten years. Pope John Paul II was here in Philadelphia, the city I was proud of as the birthplace of the greatest nation the world has ever known. Now, the greatest man, whoContinue reading “Heavenly Bells”
The GameStop Lesson
The “Reddit GameStop Surge” in late January and early February has become a cultural phenomenon. And as the energy of these events defaults to the lowest common denominator sentiment, the spectacle is eclipsing the substance. Our understanding gets muddled, and the lessons are often distorted into less than helpful, or even harmful ones in theContinue reading “The GameStop Lesson”
The Citizen Body 