Articles written by Dean Shutt

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About me - Dean Shutt

I have been a writer for most of my life, mostly short stories and poetry as a youth. A few years ago, a friend and I started SCROOMtimes, an online moagazine. I was a main contributor to that for over 5 years until we finally closed it down. Most recently,

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Creative Writing > Memoirs Memoirs: What my dog means to me: 11 of 428
You can have your two-legged kidsSo I'm sitting on my front steps, watching my dog lounge in the front yard, and I'm thinking to myself "Why would I ever want a kid?" We just finished romping around the yard, throwing his tennis ball ring and playing tug-o-war. Now we're both relaxing in our own way and waiting for the impend... More..
Jobs & Careers > Employers Finding good employees: 1 of 22
Unconventional (Yet Useful) Interview Questions When Evaluating a Job ApplicantAnyone that has interviewed for a job or conducted an interviewed has asked/answered one of the following questions; Why do you want to work here? What is your greatest strength? What is your greatest weakness? We have also received/given the same ... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Bush Administration Approval rating: Will President Bush make a comeback?: 1 of 21
How Seinfeld Can Save the Bush PresidencyThere has been speculation recently on whether it is possible at this point for George Bush to rebound from his dismal poll numbers and turn his presidency around. With his job approval rating in the mid to low thirties for the bulk of the last two years, Bush has lost independents and... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Bush Administration 2007 US attorneys firing scandal: Should Alberto Gonzales resign?: 1 of 17
Oh Oh AlbertoThere is a lot of hoopla recently surrounding the revelation of the firing of eight US attorneys for what appear to be blatantly political reasons. Some of the recurring themes that I hear being played are that this really isn't that big a deal, nothing illegal happened (except perhaps some lying to Congress) and... More..
Entertainment > Musicians & Bands What is your favorite band and why?: 13 of 219
Stealth Punk-The Music of Bruce SpringsteenSo there I was, sitting at home, minding my own business as I often do. My roommate walked in and plopped down in his chair. We had the normal after work roommate chit chat for a little while and then he said to me, "I've finally figured out why YOU like Springsteen so much.""Why is ... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Presidential Elections 2008 Predicting the winner of the 2008 U.S. presidential election: 4 of 57
Unformed Thoughts and Opinions on '08I have no earthly idea why we are thinking, talking and writing about the 2008 Presidential Election in December of 2006. I suppose it has something to do with the fact that virtually everyone sees this as a failed President, desperately flailing about in an effort to stay halfway relevant... More..
Food & Drink > Coffee Starbucks on the new culture of coffee: 2 of 26
God Bless StarbucksI'd like to bring up something that has been nagging at me for a while. No, it isn't the continued proliferation of second tier MTV celebrities on the airwaves. While this is still an alarming trend, I have a dish now so it's easier for me to avoid them. No, I'm talking about America's embrace of mediocrity... More..
Entertainment > TV Genres & Trends Best shows on television: 10 of 90
Fake News? The Daily Show and the Failure of Manistream MediaI am a big fan of "The Daily Show", some the funniest damn television out there today for my money. More importantly, this "fake" news program does a better job of exposing the questionable antics of our politicians than any news program I've seen.Do you know how mu... More..
Politics, News & Issues > War in Iraq War on Iraq: No blaze of glory for the U.S: 3 of 24
Thoughts on an InsurgencyI always find it mildly amusing whenever I hear the talking heads spout off on what it will take to defeat the insurgency in Iraq. In the first place they are usually policy wonks who have never spent a day in uniform and don't know the first thing about executing a successful counterinsurgency. Secon... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Republican Leaders Non-religious founding of the US: Exposing America's Christian foundation myth: 2 of 15
America 101 - Are We a Christian Nation?There is little that bothers me more in our current political climate than when certain folks claim that America was founded as a "Christian Nation". I have even heard on say that the founders were so certain that Christianity would become the state religion of the United States that th... More..