While I was enjoying my last couple days with E before leaving him and the circus to finish my journey around the United States, I spent some time soaking up the natural beauty of southwest-central Arkansas. I discovered DeGrey Lake State Park and pitched up the tent—my own, not the circus tents this time. One afternoon I noticed there were mountain biking trails, so of course I jumped at the opportunity to get back on my beloved bicycle. In hindsight I probably should have paid more at...

Is it ever justifiable to steal from the rich to give to the needy? Is it ethical to do something bad in order to do good? I’ve been faced with this question since I was old enough to understand the concept. In college, I did a big presentation on "The High Cost of Low Price" about Walmart's practices overseas. Is the quality of affordable life for an American worth more than the quality of life for a Chinese? Walmart isn't the only one either, obviously. Monsanto is attacked all the ti...

    Traveling this far has made me realize more than ever that I was landlocked in a flat prison for 20-something years. Those few times I traveled outside of the upper Midwest—Colima Bay, Mexico; Disney World, FL; Colorado; Arizona; Oregon—they all had a common theme: eyes glued to the plane/car window, “WOAH!” As I’ve been driving through the hills of the Appalachians, my heart fills with fascination and appreciation and often accompanied with a dorky grin on my face.  The most re...