Latest Stories
Most recently published stories 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
‘Very big force’: Will the news media be attacked for not showing Trump’s military parade?
The question is absolutely appropriate. Ask the folks at the Associated Press what happened for refusing to use the name Gulf of America in every instance without qualification.
By Lenny Cohen8 months ago in Critique
Israel Attacks Iran
Israel Attacks Iran – June 2025 Overview In the early morning hours of June 13, 2025, Israel launched a massive, coordinated military operation—codenamed Operation Rising Lion—targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, military leadership, and strategic infrastructure. The assault marks the largest Israeli attack on Iran since the Iran–Iraq War and represents a dramatic escalation in Middle East tensions, with the world now bracing for further retaliation and regional instability.
By M Irfan Zafar8 months ago in Critique
The Collapse of a Climate Mascot:
Let’s not act like this came out of nowhere. Greta Thunberg was always a symbol first. The world put a teenager on the global stage and decided she was the solution to a crisis rooted in decades of corporate corruption, policy decay, and public inertia.
By Dr. Mozelle Martin8 months ago in Critique
Wishing on a Star......
I know the image really does not match the title, but they are kind of close in a way. Lately I have been wishing that I could receive more reads and comments on my work here on Vocal. I do have two to three people who read my writings, but it seems that only a few months ago I had quite a few more other writers commenting on my writings of such. It has also been quite a while since I was on the leaderboard or even had a top story. Where has everyone gone that read my work here.
By Mark Graham8 months ago in Critique
What Comes After Exposure? Reclaiming Memory and Repair
It starts with a spark—a documentary, a conversation, a sudden reckoning. Maybe someone posts about stolen African artifacts sitting in European museums, or you read that the wealth of a global power was built on slave labor. At first, it feels like outrage. But soon, a deeper question emerges:
By David Thusi9 months ago in Critique
Be Sure to Say Please
'Be Sure to Say Please' is a very young children's story where to very young children learn the various ways in being helpful around the house and even the community in which they live. Saying "Please." is a way of showing politeness to others too. This is a tiny board book with bright and colorful pictures and the words describe them as well. This is a great book to just read the pictures and ask some basic questions or could be used as a short pre-primer reader. It is a picture book that is part of 'My Teeny Tiny Books'.
By Mark Graham9 months ago in Critique
Final Destination. Content Warning.
Final Destination: Bloodlines released May 16, 2025 and is the sixth film in the franchise. Streaming service HBO Max (more recently known as Max before reverting to its original name) decided to stream all five of the previous films in case audiences wanted to watch or rewatch them before or after seeing the new movie. I’d never seen any of them, so I decided to give them a viewing.
By David Pilon9 months ago in Critique
MAGA Fatigue
The 2024 U.S. presidential election has led to increasing disappointment among Americans who backed Donald Trump because they expected his promises of economic growth and law enforcement and American greatness. The base of Trump supporters now experiences deep regret about their support because his administration's policies have produced results that cannot be denied. The initial enthusiasm for Trump has transformed into deep frustration and anger and feelings of betrayal because his second term has exceeded all expectations of chaos and division and damage.
By Melvin Savage9 months ago in Critique
Little Miracles
'Little Miracles A Journey to Financial Freedom' a small, short book written by Melvin Kaufmann. This is a short book of 100 Little Miracles that you can use personally and professionally. 'Little Miracles' are short vignettes that give you a way to learn more on working and living with suggestions on how to interact with others in a more personal and professional manner to increase your business going. Melvin Kaufmann gives tips on how to be better aware of who you are and who you are about to meet at various business gatherings and a better leader in your work.
By Mark Graham9 months ago in Critique
The Observer's Chair
'The Observer's Chair Discovering the REAL you! was written by Dave Blanchard. This is a small, short book for coaches that could also be used by many kinds of therapists too. Welcome to the world of creating new habits of learning and working in your many various fields of choice. Mainly, this is a book that gives you a chance to see yourself in and from a different perspective. You will learn to observe yourself and the decisions that you have made, and see what and how you are progressing in working and living and also will increase your self-awareness.
By Mark Graham9 months ago in Critique
