Persons of Interest

Sean Vanatta on the Unchecked Rise of the Credit Industry

The idea that a certain kind of people are worthy of credit is entirely a social construct based around an idealized vision of society. Those same people who got credit also got all the other benefits of living in postwar America.

Expats

Rhonda tended to take in people—and cats, Jessica said. Spending about $150 of her monthly Social Security check on cat food, in addition to supporting her meth habit, had left her broke most of the time.

Eating Free

Perhaps this isn’t the case at all Embassy Suites, but in Flagstaff, Arizona, between 5 and 7 pm, the hotel provides unlimited snacks and beer, gratis. I’ll repeat that: unlimited. Granted, I never imbibed more than three Michelobs and a cubic yard of Chex mix, but still. The possibility of unlimited is delectable.

The Night I Don't Remember

It doesn’t matter how many AA meetings you go to. As long as you are taking oxycodone and oxymorphone, you’re going to be high, and, as long as you have complex regional pain syndrome, you’re going to be taking something serious for the pain.

A Thousand Words

A Thousand Words features photography so rich with narrative that it tells a story all on its own.

Plastiscenes

To show the impact of litter on what should be pristine beaches, I’ve been exploring a new way of processing my photographs: First, I take a traditional seascape. Then, using a transfer lift, I print it onto marine litter collected at the same location, usually on the same day.

Indecision

“Whether you go up the ladder or down it,” / says the Tao, “your position is shaky.”

Los Vecinos

And we’re included in the golden circle / of familia, through no virtue / of our own, yet here she is again at our door / with a plate of something delicious, or a big plastic bag / filled with nopales from the edible pads / of the giant cactus in their yard