by Steve Mathonnet-VanderWell It’s January. It’s been so cold the climate-change-deniers have trotted out their usual “How can there be global warming when its -10°

If I were a boy or a young man today, I would likely go by “Stephen”–like, Colbert, Curry, Hawking, and King. But growing up as

One Christmas, I was probably about ten years old, I made a last-minute switcheroo in what I wanted for Christmas. Instead of the tabletop football

by Steve Mathonnet-VanderWell It is Giving Tuesday, the day you are asked to be generous, to support your favorite charities. And of course, we are

A few weeks back, the ever-eloquent and oft-droll Debra Rienstra stirred up quite a tempest here on The Twelve when she wrote “I Never Was

Leon Mathonnet died on October 2, 1914, killed in battle at Monchy-le-Preux, France. He was the great-grandfather of my wife, Sophie. One year from now

Back by popular demand! If one doesn’t do it for you, maybe the next one will! 1. This is an idea I got somewhere on

LOGOS • GRAPHICS • IDENTITY • & • MEANING I’m in cemeteries frequently and I’ve noticed a trend. Headstones decorated with little emblems or graphics, things that were important

Jon Witt is a sociologist who teaches at Central College in Pella, Iowa. He is the author of Soc, one the most popular introductory sociology