Published inLaura Vasilion Present Tense·PinnedMember-onlyWith a Camera and a GunRemembering my father’s sacrifices in Iceland during WWII. Armed with his Navy-issued camera and a .45 caliber handgun, my father spent much of WWII in a place rarely linked with the conflict: Iceland. Aboard his AR5 repair ship, Vulcan, he sailed across the North Atlantic to Iceland in convoy. As…World War II3 min readWorld War II3 min read
Published inLaura Vasilion Present Tense·Jun 1, 2022Member-onlyAs It Should BeAs It Should Be Tell me your name, said the wind. Tell me your truth, replied the tree. Together, they rustled. Brushed against each other in the day’s dimming light until the sky shifted to purple. Waited for the other to answer first. To this day, neither one of them…1 min read1 min read
Published inThe Pandemic Project·Dec 29, 2020Member-onlyPandemic Yields One Unexpected Gain for Spanish MusicianIgor Paskual Talks About His Musicial Journey During Covid-19 For those in the arts, the pandemic has been especially cruel. In Spain, as elsewhere, musicians are struggling to adapt to the loss of live concert opportunities. Igor Paskual, one of Spain’s popular rock and roll musicians, talks about how he…Music4 min readMusic4 min read
Published inThe Pandemic Project·Nov 25, 2020Member-onlyCreating Music Amid Spain’s Collective Failure to the PandemicHow Composer Mario Vinuela is Adapting to the Crisis in Spain Mario is a 38-year-old composer living in Gijon, a city in the north of Spain. He runs a recording studio with his wife, Elena. They develop audiovisual projects such as audio books, soundtracks, video production, and give classes in…Spain5 min readSpain5 min read
Published inThe Pandemic Project·Oct 22, 2020Member-onlyThe Fight for Survival in South DakotaIn a Place Hard Hit by the Pandemic, A Native Woman Fights for Her People’s Survival and Her Own Her name is Cankudutawin, Scarlet Way. Her English name is Ruth. She lives with her family on Dakota Treaty lands on the Lake Traverse Reservation in northeastern South Dakota, a state that never issued a shelter in place order. Her Tribe, however, issued a mask mandate, social distancing measures, and…Trump Administration6 min readTrump Administration6 min read
Published inThe Pandemic Project·Sep 6, 2020Member-onlyClearer Skies Mask The Lurking Pandemic Enemy In IndiaHow a Young Indian Woman is Navigating Life During India’s Covid19 Outbreak Nandita is almost 40 and single. She lives in Chennai, India, located in the south of the country. “I live on a mount on the outskirts of the city and it is generally green compared to the steely…India6 min readIndia6 min read
Published inThe Pandemic Project·Aug 20, 2020Member-onlyResisting Panic During The Pandemic In The NetherlandsAnnemarie is a 39-year-old Dutch woman who is back in the Netherlands after having lived in the U.S. for six years. She teaches fourth grade, is on the management team of her school, and is also a ‘leermonitor’ (learning monitor). A single mom to two boys, aged 11 and 15…Pandemic6 min readPandemic6 min read
Jul 23, 2020Member-onlyTrump’s Assault on Beauty Stops NowHow Mary Trump’s book, a song, and a walk is giving me hope The heat near Chicago broke today. Embracing the change, I grabbed my phone and ear buds, and headed out on a long walk. Hitting play on my Spotify app, a song popped up on my playlist that…Mary Trump3 min readMary Trump3 min read
Published inThe Pandemic Project·Jul 14, 2020Member-onlyFrom Brazil, One Woman Hopes for a Better Post-Pandemic WorldJaell is a 66-year-old translator & interpreter, living in Campinas, State of São Paulo, Brazil. She describes herself as a hard worker. Besides translating and interpreting, she also coaches executives, teaches translators-to-be, and runs her own 40-year-old business, Traducenter. Jaell was also one of the first people I interviewed for…Coronavırus4 min readCoronavırus4 min read
Published inThe Pandemic Project·Jun 12, 2020Member-onlyA Privileged Pandemic — a View from ScotlandA Pandemic Update from Sarah in Scotland Since the Death of George Floyd Tonight, as usual, I sit and watch the TV news. My daughter is on the floor cutting out paper for a home-made version of Cards Against Humanity and my husband is settled into his favourite armchair. The…George Floyd8 min readGeorge Floyd8 min read
