BY JAMES CONRAD In a place and time where most people are short of money, especially in the Bay Area during the post-Reagan epoch, selling plasma can make the periods between paydays easier to navigate.  The company I do business with is Octapharma. Founded in Switzerland in 1983, they operate

2020 started with the impeachment of Donald Trump, the first attempted presidential ousting since Clinton twenty-two years prior. A volcano in the Philippines erupted, killing thirty-nine and leaving many without homes. LA Lakers player Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Maria-Onore died in a helicopter crash. A novel SARS virus

Sometimes it doesn’t make sense. You did everything right: went to college, earned good grades, published short stories. You finished grad school with a full-length manuscript, even scored some artist residencies. Your list of professional references is growing, an excellent sign. The right people are endorsing your work. It appears

Miranda got away with her devilish persona because there was a method to her mania. It takes exactly zero talent to be a dick, and I do not respect unwarranted authority. By Week Four with Ħażin totali, my respect for Massimo was almost gone. I’d heard him berate contractors, clients,

At the end of a long run, sometimes it feels good to take a spin around the block, just to feel the muscles in my thighs move around a little more, to kick out my legs in the last vestiges of a runner’s high. I’ll do the same thing at

Jim Carroccio was desperate. After decades of cognitive therapy, his struggles with PTSD and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder were as acute and debilitating as ever. So it was time to take a trip.

Literally and figuratively.

Whip-Smart Feminism Hi, I’m Shameless Heather Atles, an expert relationships, sex, and intimacy coach. With years of experience guiding individuals through the complexities of love, connection, and self-worth, my approach combines humor, practical wisdom, deep insights, and actionable steps to empower those navigating the twists and turns of modern romance. 

It was 7 years ago that I wrote my first article for Broke-Ass Stuart around my transition from SF to Oakland. And I thought at first I’d write a long list of the differences I’ve noticed between the two iconic Bay Area cities. The primary distinction between residing in Oakland