Art by Mahati Santhanakrishnan Surveillance has been a staple of the American experiment since its inception. What started as intercepting the Plymouth Rock postal service has mutated into a behemoth of digital databases harvested from the public en masse. But the government is not the only one watching. The people have their own form of mass surveillance: Gossip. The connection between private whispers and the DHS hunting for immigrants may seem tenuous, but US history shows that the line...

There’s a saying that goes something like, “I’m eating sleep for dinner.” I must admit I’ve tried my hand at this cuisine. It’s not my first choice, it’s not a punishment, and it’s not abnegation. I am merely easily distracted in the evening. By nine or ten, I lack the energy to cook, an appetite for cereal, and interest in take-out. Stomach grumbles disturb my rest, and in the morning, I’m emotional. I wouldn’t recommend it. I’d rather recommend a more literal approach. You see, it turns out...

Popeyes Biscuits My grandma and I wore fancy dresses to an empty Popeyes before the wedding. She taught me table manners. I spread cheap napkins on my skirt, sat straight, and sliced the biscuits all proper. She sang me a song that goes, “Elisa, Elisa, if you’re able, keep your elbows off the table.” ⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆ Espresso Sonata No. 1 The only wedding I’ve attended was my dad’s. Boston froze over in January and Anna requested a coffee flavored cake. I wore a scratchy bow and...