Amanda Smith is a freelance journalist and writer. She reports on culture, society, human interest and technology. Her stories hold a mirror to society, reflecting both its malaise and its beauty.

The CBOE Volatility Indexclosed at 18.11 on Tuesday. While that indicates a relatively calm market, the VIX is still up about 20% year-to-date, but nowhere near its 52-week high of 60.13. Speaking of ...