Category Archives: News

How dare you even question learned helplessness (or) Wednesday morning coffee

Posted on May 9, 2012 by admin

Something interesting happened at The Chronicle of Higher Education this week. Naomi Schaefer Riley posted something that upset enough people who protested strongly enough that she was fired. Schaefer Riley commented on an article in The Chronicle about black studies … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Economics, Ethnicity and race, News, Society and Culture | Leave a comment

Good and bad states for business and the significance of regional bigotry

Posted on May 3, 2012 by admin

Regional bigotry. I am a proud child of Massachusetts. Spent most of my life in the northeast. Grew up in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut – as well as Great Britain. Perhaps because of my background I have become increasingly aware … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Economics, News, Politics, Rhetoric, Society and Culture | 2 Comments

Disunity with a chaser of derision (or) Morning coffee

Posted on April 25, 2012 by admin

Things are not looking good in the “we thought this would put all that behind us” department. I have avoided saying anything about the so-called Trayvon Martin or George Zimmerman case. Because quite frankly we shouldn’t be talking about it. … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethnicity and race, News, Politics, Propaganda | Leave a comment

Live the Trinity – into suspended animation?

Posted on July 22, 2011 by admin

I might have to take a page from the Red Stick Rant book and put this website into temporary(?) hibernation. The last 2 weeks have been working 10-12 hours/day which is fine. Hard work is part of congregational ministry. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Announcement, Art, Bible, Buddhism, Ethnicity and race, Hebrew Bible, Internationals and immigrants, Movies and film, New Testament, News, Opera, Politics, Science, Society and Culture | Comments Off

Falling prey to propaganda (or) Afternoon coffee

Posted on June 15, 2011 by admin

When enough media outlets pound us enough with the message that someone is odious or venal or stupid one starts to believe the propaganda. “Oh man sure hope Michele Bachmann does not become the Republican presidential candidate because she’s crazy … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Economics, Media, News, Politics, Propaganda, Society and Culture, Women | Comments Off

The president’s new high score (or) Morning coffee

Posted on May 13, 2011 by admin

Remember Tucson? How heated political rhetoric was somehow responsible for the shootings? How even mentioning targeting could give someone ideas? Remember the fine (seriously) words President Obama spoke at the memorial service? Charles Krauthammer once again helps us understand better … Continue reading →

Posted in Internationals and immigrants, Issues, Media, News, Politics | Comments Off

Nonsense and solipsism (or) Morning coffee

Posted on April 29, 2011 by admin

Even if we disagree with an idea – even find it repellent – we must try to understand it on its own terms. In other words understand it as the person who holds that idea understands it. Otherwise we are … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Environment, Ethnicity and race, Logic and Reason, Media, News, Politics, Propaganda | Comments Off

Are people seeing it? (or) Morning coffee

Posted on April 26, 2011 by admin

I was impressed by the astute observations Andrew Malcolm of the Los Angeles Times makes in his recent article “The increasingly odd political optics of Barack Obama”. The former state senator may, in fact, be slaving away on 18-hour policy … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Logic and Reason, News, Politics, Propaganda | Comments Off

The psychology of evil and the confluence of sin and death, part II

Posted on March 11, 2011 by admin

“Left alone [Melkor/Morgoth] could only have gone raging on till all was levelled again into a formless chaos” – J. R. R. Tolkien (Morgoth’s Ring, 396) “The spirit in revolt consequently acquires a hatred of being, a frenzy to destroy, … Continue reading →

Posted in Abortion, Economics, Islam, Issues, Logic and Reason, News, Politics, Religion, Society and Culture, Theology | 2 Comments

Victor Davis Hanson – Appreciating teachers and the people whose taxes pay their salaries

Posted on February 28, 2011 by admin

My wife is a teacher and former state worker. Many relatives on my mother’s side of the family are teachers and public/state workers. For some reason almost no one on my father’s side is a teacher or public/state/government worker. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Education, Media, News, Personal, Politics | Comments Off