Articles written by Joost Steffensen

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About me - Joost Steffensen

Hi my name is Joost. I'm a Danish citizen raised in the Netherlands with an American partner and a British son living in Prague. I consider myself European and hope that my son will think of himself as a citizen of Earth. Being human is full of challenges

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Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Little things: 1 of 147

It's little things that bother me, that drive me up the wall. They're giving me the willies and making my skin crawl. It's the way you eat your apple, the way you crunch and chunder, the way way you eat the stem and core, and rip the fruit asunder. It is the way you move your feet. You shuffle and you skliff. It makes me wan...
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Morning meditations: 1 of 79

It's time to get the cobwebs out, to cleanse my dusty eyes. I sit down on my favorite spot under amazing skies. My clothes are light and airy. The sun is mild and low. Nothing here disturbs me. There's nowhere I must go. I have chosen the perfect time, gone is the morning dew and yet the freshness lingers and everything feel...
Entertainment > Music Business Music piracy: Is downloading music ethical?: 2 of 50

Recently I visited some friends who had bought a DVD which we were going to watch together. To my surprise however when my friends started the DVD we didn't go straight to the movie. Instead we had to suffer through a commercial showing someone stealing a car, a purse and a CD. As the thief did his deeds we were reminded tha...
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Peace: 8 of 145

When our colors start to blend... When our fear and terror ends... when we all stick out our neck... And no longer turn our backs... When we welcome what is new... And hold on to what is true... When we curb our arrogance... And take a courageous stance... When I am no longer I... When we do and not just try... When we act a...
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Friendship: 16 of 273

I never even doubted that at any time I could pick up the phone Or write you a quick line And so I never bothered And so I never did My thoughts of you were sacred What I felt I never hid We were such dear companions united in a fight And when the fight was over So was our shared delight No words were ever spoken No thing wa...
Politics, News & Issues > Drug Laws & Prevention A case to legalize drugs in America: 3 of 46

The criminalization of drug-use is the second prohibition. And like the first prohibition, the one on alcohol, it needs to be ended. We all know alcohol is bad for us and we all know drugs are bad for us. But making them illegal is not the solution. In fact making them illegal caused and is causing problems of its own. There...
Education > Teachers & Administrators Should teachers be held accountable for low student test scores?: 3 of 36

Disclosure: I'm a teacher myself. However I nowadays work in adult education where student testing is a different matter altogether. There are three main reasons why teachers shouldn't be held accountable for low student test scores. The first one is that it defeats the purpose of the test. Test are made to test students not...
Politics, News & Issues > War & Terrorism Is freedom to travel where you want a basic human right?: 1 of 11

The closest thing we have to a law that sets out basic human rights is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was adopted and assembled by the UN in 1948 in reaction to the atrocities of WWII. The first article of this declaration states: "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endo...
Education > Study Skills & Test Taking Do final exams help or hinder the education process?: 2 of 20

The problem with final exams is that they have become an end rather than a means. They should be a means for gauging whether the examinees are prepared for the phase of their life that follows their exams. Instead what follows the test seems irrelevant and subordinate to passing the test. The result of this is a series of ne...
Travel > Africa & Middle East Destinations Travel destinations: Israel: 1 of 10

Israel has to be the most fascinating country you can visit. It is hard to get the full experience as a tourist, but if you want to try it here is my recipe for making your trip to Israel the defining experience of your life. First of all take as much time of as you can. Before you can really get in the spirit of things you ...