Monthly Archives: November 2021

Thanksgiving Weekend 2021: Puritans, Pandemic and Me

Americans celebrated Thanksgiving this week. Well, most Americans. Some folks in New England lamented injustices committed over the last few centuries. “Native American tribes are gathering in Plymouth to mourn on Thanksgiving” Associated Press, via NPR (November 25, 2021) Wisconsin: … Continue reading

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Reading, Writing, Preferences, Priorities, and Acts 1:8

I enjoy reading. Some folks don’t. I have no idea what fraction of readers boast of their bookish practices. Or how many non-readers argue that reading is a waste of time. Apart, perhaps, from their occasional dip into a how-2 … Continue reading

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A Star by Any Other Name, and a Galilean Interlude

I started writing about stars, names, designations and how we got to a point where Sirius is also known as BD-16°1591, ADS 5423 and GJ 244. That started me thinking about telescopes, Galileo, Aristotle and Dante. One Star, Many Names: … Continue reading

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Sauk Centre, Minnesota: First Winter Snow

We have almost inch of snow this morning, here in Sauk Centre, with a winter weather advisory on until noon. And I see there’s a blizzard warning in effect, west of us, on the Minnesota/South Dakota border. I’ll take this … Continue reading

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The Dark Ages: A New Book, an Old Idea and a Quick Post

I saw another The New York Times item in my Google News feed this morning: “Scholars Cringe at the Term ‘Dark Ages.’ Dan Jones Explains Why. The New York Times • Yesterday As I said Monday, I don’t and won’t … Continue reading

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