Benning Printing & Publishing

This month’s Book Club book was “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini. The story takes place in a changing Afghanistan and explores themes of friendship, betrayal, and the journey to find redemption. It looks at decades of conflict before, during, and after the Russian invasion and the rise of the Taliban, talking about the experiences of the Afghan people. The main characters, Amir and Hassan, share a complicated friendship. They start as loyal friends in childhood, but the

A recent jury verdict against Meta (Facebook) and YouTube is quite ironic. These platforms, which are central to a lot of our daily communication, are now facing criticism for creating features that make it hard for people to stop using their apps. The case focused on the idea that social media companies designed their apps to keep users’ attention for as long as possible. Features like infinite scrolling, autoplay videos, constant notifications, and personalized recommendat

March 17 is more than just St. Patrick’s Day; it’s also St. Gertrude Day, a feast day dedicated to Gertrude of Nivelles, a remarkable 7th-century abbess in what is now Belgium. This day is an opportunity to remember her legacy of hospitality, care for the earth, and protection of animals—especially our beloved cats. Gertrude’s fame as the patron saint of travelers stems from her deep commitment to helping those on the move. Her monastery, located along key travel routes, bec

Is anyone else feeling a sense of déjà vu, or is it just me? The U.S. is once again involved in conflict in the Middle East. I often catch myself saying “Iraq” instead of “Iran” because the events in Iraq are still fresh in my mind, just like for many of you. The U.S. and Israel have teamed up to carry out strikes on Iran. They say this is due to ongoing worries about Iran’s nuclear program, missile development, and military influence in the region, which they see as direct

The Department of Justice’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case continues to fail the very people it should protect—the survivors. On January 30, thousands of documents related to Epstein were released, once again bringing attention to one of the most horrible sex-trafficking cases in history. But as these documents came out, survivors were harmed by the Justice Department’s actions and silence. Important details identifying survivors were not properly redacted in the rele

I have long wished to attend a local yoga class, but my schedule didn’t allow it at the time. By the time I was free, I was deep into holiday activities, leaving me little time for much else. Finally, I was able to participate, and I forgot how challenging it could be. I used to practice yoga regularly over 10 years ago. As I became busier, yoga was unfortunately pushed to the wayside. This was not a smart choice for me, as I started experiencing more issues with my body. Th

I don’t even know what reality I’m living in anymore with all the insanity happening in the world. Everything is moving so fast that it’s hard to process—from what’s happening in Venezuela to the ICE shooting in Minneapolis. It’s all maddening for so many reasons. But this one caught me completely off guard: why would we even want to buy a country? Russia wants Ukraine. Trump wants Greenland. One has already led to war, and the other raises uncomfortable questions. The cont

Most people have their own preferred footwear, whether it’s sandals in the summertime or sneakers in the spring, but when fall comes around, I always reach for my knee-high boots. I’ve always loved a good pair of black leather boots—preferably with the lowest heel possible, because I don’t do heels. I wore my old pair constantly, and, as well-worn shoes do, they eventually started falling apart. While searching for a new pair, I came across some gray boots and found myself r

The month of chaos has finally come to a close, and with it, another year slips into the history books. Many people will say 2025 was a dumpster fire of epic proportions. I won’t argue that it was easy—but I also won’t say it was entirely terrible. Violence continues in Gaza. The war between Ukraine and Russia grinds on. Mass shootings still scar communities. Fires, floods, and storms remind us daily of nature’s raw power. It’s unfortunate how this is our “normal.” But it wa

December 1-7 is Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week—an annual reminder of a daily reality millions of people quietly live with. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, the two main forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), are often invisible. They don’t always come with symptoms the world can see, and because of that, many people underestimate how serious and unpredictable these conditions can be. I know this firsthand. I have Crohn’s disease, and while I’m fortunate to be in