Essays

Personal essays and reflective writing pieces.

Comparing Javier Milei and Bill Clinton's Balanced Budget Strategies: Lessons for the U.S.

February 26, 2025

In the world of fiscal policy, balanced budget strategies are often central to the economic philosophies of politicians and administrations.: post title: “Comparing Javier Milei and Bill Clinton’s Balanced Budget Strategies: Lessons for the U.S.” date: ‘2025-02-26’ author: jtdub tags: jtdub.com politics analysis

It's Time to Write Your Representatives - February 2025

February 2, 2025

There is significant turmoil in the United States due to the actions of the Trump administration and the rapid developments unfolding. Some of these actions are illegal and pose a constitutional crisis. I’ve created a template to help you clearly articulate your concerns to your representatives.

25 Years of U.S. Oil Dynamics: A Deep Dive into Production, Consumption, and Trade

January 27, 2025

Over the past quarter-century, the U.S. oil industry has undergone profound transformations, shaped by technological breakthroughs, economic forces, policy shifts, and global market dynamics. This blog explores the key trends in oil production, consumption, imports, and exports, with a focus on the most recent developments.

The Despacho Ceremony: An Ancient Andean Tradition

May 13, 2023

The Despacho ceremony is a cornerstone of Andean culture, a sacred ritual ingrained in the indigenous communities of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia. It is a vibrant celebration of gratitude, balance, and harmony, reflecting the profound connection these cultures have with the natural world and spiritual realm.

2019: Year in Diving

January 9, 2020

I did a 2018 video and I enjoyed being a bit nostalgic of the years diving activities. I decided to do another one. Enjoy.

Archaeology Career Prospects

December 11, 2019

Anthropology is the study of people and cultures from present day to the earliest humans. There are many disciplines in anthropology, including archaeology. Archaeology is the study of past peoples and cultures through the material remains that they leave behind. These remains are called artifacts. Artifacts are any physical items that are created or used by people. This essay takes a look at the archaeology job marketplace. This essay will analyze the education requirements for professional archaeologists, what typical salaries that one can expect in the job marketplace, and what types of jobs one can expect to obtain as an archaeologist.

My First Ultra Marathon

April 28, 2019

2018 Diving Highlights

December 29, 2018

It’s been an interesting year of diving. I haven’t done the most dives this year, but the dives that I’ve done have been interesting. I put together a short video showing some of the highlights.