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There’s a new way to play with your food: Inside The Runcible Spoon

By Rachel Nania

WASHINGTON — Malaka Gharib thinks most writers and publications take food too seriously. She, on the other hand, likes to play with it.

“I’m not an expert on restaurants in D.C. or an expert in local food, but I am an expert on imagination and playing with my food. And I am happy to find others who are the same way and share that.”

Gharib is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Runcible Spoon, a bi-annual zine publication she launched in 2010. If your first question is, “What’s a zine?” you’re not alone. It was mine too.

Gharib defines a zine as a small, independent publication that’s similar to a comic book in illustrations, but includes more narratives, essays and personal stories. Her zine focuses on food, and its contents vary based on each issue’s unique theme.

The Breakfast Issue is filled with illustrations depicting what people around the world enjoy for their first meal of the day. There’s also an essay on tea followed by recipes that include the beverage, and a cut-out of a four-sided fortune teller to help indecisive eaters choose their breakfast.

The issue dedicated to bland food includes a narrative on water; a photo essay of a contributor’s attempts to make rice cakes palatable and recipes for casseroles.

“We do things that tend to be a little bizarre,” says Gharib, 28.

The publication’s colorful commentary on food doesn’t stop with tongue-in-cheek illustrations and collages. In a past issue, a Brooklyn artist created an installation of what he thought an alien would look like while eating food, Gharib says.

“We try to think about food in a way that doesn’t romanticize it or fetishize it. We want you to feel that excitement or that anticipation of eating. What are the foods that make us daydream and salivate?”

When Gharib launched The Runcible Spoon four years ago with a Kickstarter campaign, she used it as a creative outlet to balance her interests and hobbies with her day job. She also hoped to tap into D.C.’s creative community.

“Through the magazine, I learned that

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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