Entries by Jeffrey Ian Ross

How many correctional systems does it take to install air conditioning?

A year has passed since widespread news and social media attention highlighted the lack of air conditioning in many city, county, and state prison systems in the United States, and several deaths that resulted from this state of affairs. This crisis, which affects inmates, correctional officers, administrators, and staff, is the result of nonexistent cooling […]

No Country for Old Politicians

After Thursday’s presidential debate, not only are Democratic-friendly political analysts and pundits seriously questioning Biden’s run for the presidency, but there’s also increased handwringing among the Democratic Party faithful. Understandably, no election, regardless of jurisdiction or importance, is won or lost solely based on a political debate between the leading candidates. And it’s unrealistic to […]

Whose Version of “The Sky is Crying” is the Best?

In 1959, blues musician Elmore James wrote and released the song “The Sky is Crying.” This piece quickly became a blues standard, celebrated for James’s soulful slide guitar and heartfelt vocals. The song’s melancholic message, conveyed through a deeply engaging tune, captures the essence of the blues and resonated with many listeners. “The Sky is […]

Enabling graffiti and street art in these crazy times?

Over the past fifty years, graffiti and street art have emerged as significant movements in public art and street culture, visible on all manner of surfaces throughout urban environments worldwide. Predictably, this activity has elicited diverse responses from individuals and groups, ranging from admiration to condemnation. Undoubtedly attention from different stakeholders influences the prevalence of […]

Embracing Familiarity Versus Taking a Chance on Something New

Every day, we make numerous choices—what to wear, what to eat, which route to take. But why do we lean towards the familiar, and what motivates us to try something new? Driven by habit or a preference for spontaneity over deliberate planning, many of us navigate these decisions on autopilot. We often face a fundamental […]