Category Archives: Discursive Detours

A catch-all category

Secondary Causes: Both/And, not Either/Or

How the Grand Canyon was formed depends on who’s talking. Scientists say it’s what happened as a river cut through the Colorado Plateau. Since I think scientists are right about the Colorado River’s role in making that mile-deep gulch, and … Continue reading

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Robots on Mars, an Empty Sample Tube and a Laser

Several days ago, a robot on Mars selected a hollow coring bit from its tool kit, drilled into a rock, withdrew the tool and placed the core into a sample tube. At least, that’s what should have happened. But just … Continue reading

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Ritalin, the 2020 Summer Olympics, and Me

I haven’t been following the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, but could hardly help noticing major stories in my news feeds. Some of them weren’t what I’d call news. Not “news” in the sense of being unexpected. China won the table tennis … Continue reading

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Olympic Games Tokyo, Stearns County Fair Sauk Centre

The 2020 Summer Olympics and Stearns County Fair are both in progress this weekend. One is an annual agricultural and commerce show, the other is half of a four-year Olympiad; but they’re not entirely different. The COVID-19 pandemic shut both … Continue reading

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Drought, Air Quality Alert: Living in the Upper Midwest

CANADA BURNS AS SMOKE SHROUDS MINNESOTA!!! Well, no. Not really. Although that’d make a dandy headline. On the other hand, maybe it’s too obviously overblown. Maybe there’s a fine line between headlines that grab attention without inspiring thought and those … Continue reading

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