Articles written by Michael Cibenko

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About me - Michael Cibenko

I am a teacher of theology and language (predominantly German and Japanese). After spending several years in southern Japan, I came back to the countryside of northwest New Jersey to raise a family. I am grateful to have this forum for writing, which has

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Travel > Hotel Reviews Hotel chain reviews: Sheraton hotels: 1 of 5

One of the basic principles of corporate capitalism is this: Whenever demand far outweighs supply, customer satisfaction ceases to be a priority. Such was my recent experience with the Sheraton hotel empire. Last summer, my mother-in-law flew over from Japan to visit after our second son was born. Well into her 80's, she had...
Politics, News & Issues > Party Politics & Ideology Assessing the future of abortion rights in the US: 5 of 15

[The following was written in response to an article by Meghan Daum in the L.A. Times entitled, "Why not give fathers a right to choose?" Her article asserts that a man who fathers a child should have the "right" to walk away from any responsibility for that child if he'd rather have it aborted (but the woman chooses not to)...
Education > Educational Philosophy Should schools be allowed to teach creationism alongside evolution as part of their science curriculum?: 13 of 37

It's interesting that opponents to teaching creationism in public school science classes often argue that creationism is a matter of faith, and therefore has no place in the realm of science. But this argument presupposes that the idea of intelligent design is, in fact, a matter of faith. But is it? There is one religion at ...
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Only memories: 18 of 33

Pieces of Memories Pieces of memories scattered Across vast plains upon the mind - Merely fragments of fantasy revealed, Selectively blind. Seeking only that which The inner one would choose - Paint a picture of gold and crimson, But somehow neglect the blues. Pieces of memories battered, Crafted to conform with desire - Dul...
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Dying cities and towns: 3 of 5

Like many from my generation, I can vividly recall the first time I read J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Beyond intense battle scenes and myriad magical creatures, I remember my fascination with The Shire, home of the Hobbits. As anyone who is familiar with the books or more recent films knows, the Hobbits ar...
Entertainment > Hollywood & Movie Industry Has Hollywood run out of ideas: 15 of 24

When it comes to the art of storytelling, very few movie concepts are completely original. But this is not a new phenomenon. Early Disney films were based on Brother Grimm fairy tales from the 1800s. Classic westerns (like "The Magnificent Seven") were often based on Akira Kurosawa films (like "The Seven Samurai"). George Lu...
Personal Finance > Auto Insurance AAA membership: Is it worth it?: 13 of 17

Is the price of AAA membership worth it? That all depends on the member. For those whose main concern is roadside assistance, a AAA card is a form of insurance. Chances are you won't need it, but it's nice to know it's there in case you do. Over the years I've called AAA to tow my car to a garage, recharge a dead battery, an...
Politics, News & Issues > Environmental Awareness Easy ways your family can "go green": 200 of 219

I used to hate mowing the lawn. I'd always strain a muscle (or two) pulling the start cord, the gas was smelly and getting more expensive by the season, and the noise would leave my ears ringing for hours afterward. One weekend my family and I were driving through Amish country in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. One of the t...
Relationships & Family > Marital Conflicts Things that can kill a marriage: 69 of 70

In western culture today, a marriage statistically has as much chance of surviving as a flipped coin has of coming up heads. Like most people, I have many friends and relatives who have suffered divorce. The reasons leading up to any given divorce may vary and seem complex. But I have taken an account of all the failed marri...
Sciences > Cultural Anthropology Japan's population crisis: 5 of 5

On November 25, 1970, the famous and eccentric Japanese poet and playwright, Yukio Mishima, directed and starred in what was arguably his most dramatic role that of his own death. After seizing control of a defense force compound and taking a high-ranking military official hostage, Mishima commited "seppeku," ritual suicide ...