Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Critique.
Dork Drabble #8
On January 30 the question is 'If you could hang out with a cartoon character in real life who would it be and why?' There are a few of these characters that I would like to hang out with me and they are Scooby-Doo for the mysteries and the food. The others range from Winnie-the-Pooh to Yogi Bear and Boo-Boo and their various friends. Even once in a while Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids where one could learn many diverse ideas on friendship, food and what makes each of us special in many ways and making proper choices too.
By Mark Graham8 months ago in Critique
Dork Drabble #7
On January 21 the question is dealing with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his dream that one day ALL people would be treated equally, regardless of the color of their skin. What dream(s) do You have that would make the world a better place? For me my dream(s) did come true so far, I was a teacher, nurse and even an activity therapist and now a writer, and I used and am using everything I learned from school and home. Now I am using a skill I learned in high school business courses as a transcriptionist of a kind.
By Mark Graham8 months ago in Critique
Dork Drabble #6
On January 26 the question is 'When school is cancelled because of snow! How will you spend most of your day?' She gave suggestions a) Snuggle in bed catching up on sleep; b) lounging in your PJ's reading your fave book or c) playing outside in the snow with your BFF?' Actually, I would be doing all of these activities, but my favorite would be to play in the snow. The order I would do them would be to play in the snow before it gets all messed up by others, then back inside the house to read and nap.
By Mark Graham8 months ago in Critique
Dork Drabble #5
On January 23 the question is 'Who's the 'kookiest' person in your family?' Nikki (a character in the book) wrote a note saying everyone in her family are a little nuts, and actually my answer would have to be the same. Really now what does the word 'kooky' really mean? There are many ways to define this word, but if I had to pick a certain family member for there was a cousin that seemed a little kooky for he could make very good animal sounds of many kinds and the sounds did sound kind of kooky to me then.
By Mark Graham8 months ago in Critique
Dork Diaries #4
On January 22 the question is "You just had a really bad day. What do you do to CHILLAX? What I do to Chillax is to -believe-it-0r-not- read a book or pick a coloring book and color. Coloring for me is one activity that allows me to really relax, as well as working on several kinds of needlecraft which is for quite 'chillaxing'. If these activities don't help, I sometimes journal some writing ideas in one of my composition books that I have laying around just in case some inspiration comes about. Please share what you do to CHILLAX. Please.
By Mark Graham8 months ago in Critique
Selah and the Spades: How the Series Would've Benefited Young Adult Media
The world was introduced to Selah Summers and Haldwell Academy in April 2020. Selah is the titular character of Selah and the Spades, an independent Young Adult drama that tells the story of how Selah walks a fine line between being feared and being loved. Months before the film’s release, Variety released an article stating that Amazon Studios had bought the rights to the film and planned to develop a series based on the movie. According to the article, the show was supposed to expound on the world of Haldwell Academy, possibly after Selah graduated. Unfortunately, we learned a few years back from Tayarisha Poe (the writer and director) on Twitter that the series isn’t happening. Looking at the current state of Young Adult Entertainment, Amazon should've developed the series. Teen media today lacks authentic minority representation, original content, and has alienated teen audiences. If the Selah and the Spades series existed, there would be more minority representation in teen media, an original show amongst the sea of remakes and reboots, and a show that doesn't alienate teen audiences.
By Tallulah Chanel8 months ago in Critique
Father's Day
So, another Father's Day without you Dad. I know you are still looking out for me even from that special place you are now. For I know you and mom are looking out for me for when I am cutting grass in this hot and humid weather there seems to be a cool breeze that blows when I most need it, and I can push on with whatever I need to do. I see you in the clouds with mom and know that you are at peace and feeling your old self and still as mentioned looking over me now.
By Mark Graham8 months ago in Critique
Father's Day
So, another Father's Day without you Dad. I know you are still looking out for me even from that special place you are now. For I know you and mom are looking out for me for when I am cutting grass in this hot and humid weather there seems to be a cool breeze that blows when I most need it, and I can push on with whatever I need to do. I see you in the clouds with mom and know that you are at peace and feeling your old self and still as mentioned looking over me now.
By Mark Graham8 months ago in Critique
UN peaceful intentions face Washington's anger
After initiated by Hamas attack on Israel in October, 2023, Israel Defense Forces conducted extensive aerial campaigns and ground operations in the Gaza Strip. By January 2025 a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas has been reached, bringing an end to a protracted fifteen-month conflict. Nevertheless, in March 2025, Israel resumed its military offensive with a significant campaign across key areas, including Gaza City, cities of Rafah and Khan Younis. The two-month blockade on humanitarian aid imposed by Israel has resulted in severe famine-like conditions and has exacerbated the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. As of January 2025, 1.9 million Gazans—about 90 percent of Gaza’s population—have been displaced and are categorized as facing acute or catastrophic food insecurity.
By Adomas Abromaitis8 months ago in Critique
AI's end of an era ? Midjourney vs disney
A historic legal dispute between Disney and Universal against Midjourney AI image generator threatens to transform artificial intelligence regulations. The lawsuit filed on Wednesday claims Midjourney trained its AI model with copyrighted images to enable users to create unauthorized perfect copies of Shrek and Darth Vader and Buzz Lightyear images.
By Melvin Savage8 months ago in Critique
🧀 Society of the Human Rats
I feel that society increasingly resembles a house of rodents, in which the luckiest and most fortunate rats —whether due to effort and dedication (because yes, there are rats that truly fought and worked hard to get a good chunk of cheese that allows them to live well and happy in their rat world)— have their place. But there are others who simply had a smart daddy rat who accumulated and accumulated —sometimes selfishly— a great amount of cheese. And there they are, just roaming, eating and spending, and spending, jumping from trap to trap, because they know that the biggest piece is already in their burrow. And they’re not satisfied with the scraps offered in the traps set out for rats in the world.
By Leonardo Alberca8 months ago in Critique
